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.
