How to Refer to High-Status People: Elite, VIPs, C-Level Executives, and “High-Flying Birds” | Leonid Bugaev
May 15, 2026
Why people struggle to approach “unreachable” individuals, how to address C-level executives, officials, business owners, and members of the elite, and why status is not only about money but also access, influence, and social capital.
Why people struggle to approach “unreachable” individuals, how to address C-level executives, officials, business owners, and members of the elite correctly, and why status is not just about money, but also access, influence, and social capital.
Why It Is So Difficult to Reach “Unreachable” People
One of the most common hidden problems in networking and B2B communication is the fear of addressing someone with a higher status “the wrong way.”
People are afraid:
- “What if I seem too ordinary?”
- “What if this is not my level?”
- “How do you even talk to someone who feels impossible to reach?”
- “How do you write to people everyone wants access to?”
- “How do you get access to C-level executives, officials, business owners, investors, or celebrities?”
This is exactly where many people break down before the first interaction even happens.
Some become overly flattering.
Others go in the opposite direction and try too hard to show they “do not bend.”
Some wear the mask of pretending to be “part of the circle.”
Others escape into philosophy: “All people are equal anyway.”
Formally — yes. But social stratification has never disappeared.
Society is still divided into layers. In the past, it was visible through titles, coats of arms, and the number of horses. Today, it is visible through influence, access, capital, social circles, the speed of solving problems, and the scale of consequences that can come from a single phone call.
The Cinderella story remains a beautiful fairy tale. “From rags to riches” is still a powerful cultural dream.
Social elevators exist. But they usually work not through motivational quotes, but through human capital:
- connections;
- trust;
- reputation;
- experience;
- social circles;
- the ability to be useful to strong people.
How Should You Refer to People “Above You in Status”?
The principle is actually very simple:
Call people what they call themselves.
Or use the way people close to them refer to them.
Sometimes it is an official title. Sometimes it is part of the internal culture of the environment around them.
I have heard expressions like:
- “Our Father”
- “The First”
- “Chief”
- “Senior”
- “The Boss”
- “Owner”
- “Partner”
The key point is not to artificially “play a role.”
High-level people detect very quickly:
- tension;
- flattery;
- fake confidence;
- the desire to “attach yourself” to them.
What High Status Actually Means
Status is not just about money.
Status includes:
Factor What It Means Influence The ability to change decisions and processes Access Entry into closed circles and resources Social Capital A network of trusted relationships Reputation The level of trust people place in you Responsibility The scale of decisions and consequences Speed The ability to solve issues quickly One person may “solve problems” inside a small company.
Another may influence an entire industry.
A third may shape decisions at a regional level.
A fourth may operate at a national scale.
These are different levels of “altitude.”
“High-Flying Birds”
I usually call such people “high-flying birds.”
Why?
Because they have:
- a high level of achievement;
- large-scale opportunities;
- strong networks;
- a broad strategic perspective;
- access to people and information unavailable to most others.
Sometimes their strength comes from a wide network of contacts.
Sometimes — from a very narrow but extremely influential circle.
There is no strict line.
There are people who:
- “will go far”;
- “are rising fast”;
- “have access”;
- “can get things done”;
- “are inside the circle.”
How High-Status People Are Usually Described
Context Typical Label Government High-ranking official Corporations CEO, top management, leadership IT Senior, Lead, Principal Entertainment Star, celebrity Closed communities Partner, senior, first Social elite Elite, upper circle
The Biggest Mistake When Trying to Reach Powerful People
Most people try to:
- impress;
- sell themselves;
- appear “part of the circle”;
- demonstrate status.
But high-level people are constantly under attack from:
- requests;
- sales pitches;
- manipulation;
- “Can I have 15 minutes of your time?”
That is why access usually goes not to the loudest people, but to those who are:
- useful;
- calm;
- systematic;
- reliable;
- clear and competent.
How to Actually Reach C-Level Executives and “High-Flying Birds”
Mistake What Works Better “Can we connect?” Specific value Long self-introductions Short, clear context Trying to be liked Calm respect Hard selling Useful interaction Trying to look important Real competence The interesting thing is that high-level people are often much easier to communicate with than those still trying to prove they belong there.
Because they no longer need to prove anything.
References
- Pitirim Sorokin — “Social Stratification and Mobility”
- Max Weber — “Class, Status and Party”
- Pierre Bourdieu — “Sociology of Social Space”
- Alex Krol — “Theory of Castes and Roles”
- Leonid Bugaev — “Mobile Networking”
Main Idea
High-level networking is about trust, reputation, usefulness, and calm communication. And most importantly, my dear “high-flying birds,” it is the ability to create value.
Less philosophizing. More relationship building.
