Everyone has an ego which basically defines our sense of self-esteem or self-importance.  Ego originates the part of the mind that mediates between the conscious and the unconscious and is responsible for reality testing and a sense of personal identity.

Whether working or socializing with others, our ability to understand and share how others define themselves (i.e., their ego) is a critical aspect of positive interpersonal interactions.

Gaining Consensus

Being empathetic to others requires understanding and reacting in synergy with their ego. This works to enable  other  people, through a combination of both their conscious and unconscious thoughts and  feelings, to naturally feel they  have been fairly recognized.

This creates a belief you appreciate them even in cases of strong disagreement and provides a powerful base for collaboration even in cases of strong disagreement.

Respect can open a lot of doors even in the face of dissension.  False respect is usually quickly identified by others.  Sincerity is key and by taking the time and effort to understand  another (i.e., practicing empathy) and behave accordingly your sincerity will be accepted.

Recognition

Recognition does not have to be praiseworthy or even founded on agreement.  However to be effective it needs to be clearly communicated whether verbally or through action (or both).

Acknowledging another’s worth speaks directly to their ego and even if your acknowledgement does not align with their position just letting them know you believe in them and understand their value leads to lasting high quality results ( this belief must be recognized as true or it will cause more damage than anything else).