Observed at work...
Experiment:
Say you discuss a technical problem you are facing with somebody who is an intellectual peer or worse. Then later that day you discuss the same problem with somebody who is orders of magnitude smarter than you. In both cases let's assume you already have these impressions of the person prior to sharing the problem with them.
Result:
The problem statement (as formulated by you) is more comprehensive in the second discussion with Mr Brainiac. Given that formulating the problem right is half the work done you are already closer to the solution without the other person even having spoken yet.
Hypothesis (not being asserted for all samples but for many if not most):
Based on how positive an impression you have of the other person's intellect you almost unconsciously raise (but not lower) the quality of your own formulation of the problem when presenting it to them.
And of course I am not talking about doing so for their benefit (that is usually simplification of the formulation and is by definition conscious )
Corollary (if hypothesis is true):
You are lazy to not formulate the problem the best way that you can when faced with only a whiteboard or pen/paper in the first place.
Say you discuss a technical problem you are facing with somebody who is an intellectual peer or worse. Then later that day you discuss the same problem with somebody who is orders of magnitude smarter than you. In both cases let's assume you already have these impressions of the person prior to sharing the problem with them.
Result:
The problem statement (as formulated by you) is more comprehensive in the second discussion with Mr Brainiac. Given that formulating the problem right is half the work done you are already closer to the solution without the other person even having spoken yet.
Hypothesis (not being asserted for all samples but for many if not most):
Based on how positive an impression you have of the other person's intellect you almost unconsciously raise (but not lower) the quality of your own formulation of the problem when presenting it to them.
And of course I am not talking about doing so for their benefit (that is usually simplification of the formulation and is by definition conscious )
Corollary (if hypothesis is true):
You are lazy to not formulate the problem the best way that you can when faced with only a whiteboard or pen/paper in the first place.