Empathy is one of the most productive things people can have in a relationship, suggests psychologist Robert Brooks. Empathy is the ability to see a situation from another person's point of view. When someone is not acting this way, his words and behavior seem selfish -- and selfish behavior is not considerate behavior. Calm your emotions, step back and attempt to see the other person's point of view from a logical, yet compassionate perspective.

Communication researchers Steve Duck and David McMahan stress the importance of good listening in their book, "Communication in Everyday Life." The term "active listening" best describes what a person should be doing. Active listening involves paying attention, remembering information, repeating the other person's words, providing feedback and having positive body language such as leaning forward and giving eye contact. Ignoring another person when she speaks is very inconsiderate. Give a person your full attention and she will feel validated.

Having self-control is considerate behavior, and it is beneficial to a union of any kind. Many people don't monitor themselves. Instead, they speak or act before they think. It is important to think about the consequences of your words and actions. Everything you say and do has the ability to positively or negatively influence others. When you don't control these things, it can insult your partners or friends and damage a relationship.

Considerate people do kind things for other people. Kindness is very important to overcoming inconsiderate habits, asserts Patty O’Grady, human development professor at the University of Tampa. For example, a smile, a kind word, a thank you or a hug are all nice gestures. Other ideas include holding open a door for the person behind you or letting another car merge in front of you in traffic. Treat other people the way you would want to be treated. In other words, live by the "Golden Rule."