You know how easily e-mails can be misinterpreted, but you may not understand why. Chalk it up to egocentricity, according to a new report.
Since people tend to be egocentric -- that is to say, they assume others experience things the same way they do -- they may make the assumption that what they write will be interpreted exactly as they meant it.
But one thing an e-mail can't do well at all is convey emotions. You may have a good relationship with a co-worker, but without the physical, verbal and emotional cues that come from a face-to-face conversation -- tone of voice or facial expressions -- the real intent of the message can get mangled and misinterpreted.
A recent study showed that your chances are no better than 50-50 of having your e-mail interpreted correctly, although most people believe that they are conveying their message clearly 80 percent of the time.
Perhaps, the best way to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and confrontations -- especially when the ongoing written conversation gets heated -- would be to take a short empathy break to get some perspective.
Two other great ways to avoid conflicts that unintentionally occur while passing e-mails back and forth:
1. Pick up the phone and call the person if you believe the intent of your e-mail message may get lost in translation.
2. Give that e-mail a quick read first to ensure it conveys your intentions properly.