I was in my local supermarket today when I saw a happy two-year-old running around the checkout area.

As I smiled and walked by, the moment reminded me of how I speak to two-year-olds.

When speaking to little kids, I recommend squatting down so that you are at eye level with them, saying hello, and smiling from a distance.

This has worked very well for me, and here’s why I do it.

As adults, we forget how much taller we are than young children.

By squatting down, you no longer tower over them. The average height for a 24-month-old is 34 inches (~86 cm).

The average adult is a little less than twice as tall. Imagine meeting someone that is twice your height. You look up and discover they are 11 feet (~335 cm) tall.

They would be a giant.

When you squat down, you eliminate the height difference and are ideally at eye level. There is no height differential.

Now, why am I telling you this?

This same principle of meeting people where they are also applies in life, business, and consulting.

When I was at McKinsey, the standard dress for men in the New York office was a suit and tie.

However, some client offices were more casual. When meeting a client for the first time, I’d wear a suit.

However, if I discovered everyone was dressed more casually, I would excuse myself to go to the restroom.

I’d go into a bathroom stall to take off my tie, unbutton the collar of my shirt, and take off my jacket.

I’d return to the meeting and put my suit over a chair. I’d end up wearing a button-down shirt with nicer-than-average slacks.

If I would later meet blue-collar workers (truck drivers or warehouse workers) at the client’s office, I’d go a step further and also roll up my sleeves.

My point in all this is that you want to meet people where they are “at” (figuratively speaking).

There is a time to be on a pedestal when interacting with others. However, the vast majority of the time, it’s more effective to be on the same level as they are.

What do you think about this topic? Comment below to let me know.

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