While there’s no set criteria for what makes a person intimidating, it’s usually some combination how your interactions have gone with them in the past (if applicable) and your perceptions of that person as being smarter, better organized, more prepared, funnier, more attractive, more charismatic and/or more powerful than you. And once you have it in your head that someone’s intimidating, it can be hard to convince yourself otherwise.

Latest episodes of the podcast How to Talk to Someone Who Intimidates You

• Come prepared