A cooking pot

Once a student asked his teacher, “How does one get two bitter enemies to work together on something?” His teacher answered, “Take a lesson from the cooking pot. Its thin bottom keeps two enemies, fire and water, from ever being reconciled to one another; it just gives them a chance to work together in peace. It does so by not concerning itself with the contradictory qualities of the two opponents. It lets the water be water, and lets the fire keep on burning.”

_ A Jewish Parable

If you accept people as they are and respect their individuality, working together for a common purpose is possible, provided the goal is clear and neutral.