If I practice seeking first to understand, do I have to agree to what the other person is saying always?

The purpose of seeking to understand first before being understood is not to necessarily agree with the other person. It's about taking the time to fully and deeply comprehend their perspective, even if you may not agree with them in the end. You are not obligated to agree with them.

The ultimate goal is to see the situation through their lens first. Once you have gained a complete understanding of their viewpoint by genuinely empathizing with their situation, you can make a decision to either agree or disagree based on your own judgment.