The bottom line is this: your thoughts about how other people feel and how they feel about you are probably far less accurate than you think and may not be accurate at all. That’s one reason why empathy is such an important skill. It makes no difference if you’re dealing with a personal conflict with a family member or friend, or a business problem such as a disagreement with your boss or customer—accurate knowledge of how the other person is thinking and feeling will be invaluable.
