You should always assume the person to whom you are talking is smarter than you are, or has access to more resources, information, or both. This is a good rule of thumb for every interaction and it guarantees you won’t start the conversation by underestimating or demeaning others. Underestimating others or thinking they are inferior in some way is a common error made by pompous and arrogant leaders. Even if you know that on this point at least you do have superior knowledge, by not assuming you know it ALL, you might learn something that you didn’t know that will help you make better decisions. By assuming that you are speaking with someone with superior wisdom, you are more likely to actually hear what they say and take it seriously. Regardless of how smart YOU are, or how much experience you have, there is always the possibility that you could learn something new. It is pompous and arrogant to assume you don’t need the input of others.