Just getting to know the person is normally the way forward, and works for any situation.

Someone might be really aggressive because they’re going through a terrible time outside work. It’s no excuse, but understanding that develops empathy, which they pick up upon, and behave more favourably towards you.

Someone might be really aggressive because they’re going through a terrible time at work. Their boss is horrible, their line reports useless, and they feel like they have no support. They’re not thinking about their behaviour towards you because they’re just trying to survive the next hour. Throwing a friendly smile in their direction and promptly, reliably providing what they asked for will soften their attitude towards you in future.

Plus, there are other ways people can intimidate you: Resting Bitch Face. Resting Grumpy Face. Someone who’s so physically attractive you find yourself flustered every time they walk in the room. Getting to know any of them allows you to see the person underneath that face — someone you’ll probably like a lot, and come to see as just another friendly face in the office.

Of course, some people are just ****s, but that’s not about you at all. That’s all them. The advice is generally sound, but I’d avoid having a pre-meeting in case anyone feels ganged-up upon — better to stick to a quick informal chat if you want to run your ideas past someone else.