How to talk with someone intimidating

550. Continuing our two-part series on speaking up at work, this week's episode tackles how to talk with someone intimidating—a boss, professor, or anyone who makes your adrenaline spike. You’ll learn how to recognize dominance signals, mentally humanize scary people, use your own body language to project calm confidence, and prepare for tough conversations without overpreparing. Regardless of your intimidating situation, these four practical tools will help you use your voice with more clarity and self-respect. Find Dr. Ellen Hendriksen on Substack. Find a transcript here . Have a mental health question? Email us at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.com. Find Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and Twitter , or

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How to talk with someone intimidating is an episode from The Savvy Psychologist's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Mental Health by Macmillan Holdings, LLC.

This episode is 6:17 long.

This episode was published on Feb 11, 2026.

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