People who can change levels are the ones who can raise levels!

I agree the title is confusing! But that's helpful to grab your attention, isn't it?

Let me tell you step by step what and whom am I talking about! 

First of all, this observation comes from a team leader guy who is about to become a manager! This is for those who are transitioning, slowly, but steadily.

I am an average workman in an IT company and I noticed few things!  I have an experience of around 10 years and I interact with a mix of junior and senior colleagues. As part of my job, I have to answer queries from a freshers, interns as well as I am part of product definition discussions with my senior managers having 15-30 years of experience in the IT field.

The fact is while talking to the junior colleagues and answering their doubts, I have to match my level of thinking with theirs, I have to see things from their perspective and then try to answer his/her query. If I answer the person from my perspective, then he/she may not understand it well in the first go. That would result in hesitance from juniors to talk to me next time when they have a doubt.

On the other hand, when I talk with my managers, product definition team, product managers I should try to answer them from their perspective. Obviously the senior colleagues don't bother about small bugs in the system, but they care more about overall functionality achieved, quality targets being met, which modules are working, which modules are affected due to bugs, what is the effect on our release cycle etc. I generally shouldn't bother them about the minute details of the software/s, unless they show the interest (that saves time for both of us). Unnecessary dragged discussions filled with too much detailing would make the discussion boring

Fruitful discussions with your juniors increase depth of your knowledge in particular area.
Fruitful discussions with your seniors increase width of your knowledge (And it is your duty to make sure your juniors also get same experience when they interact with you :) ).

To summarize, If you interact with people by bringing yourself at appropriate levels, you'd be involved in more and more fruitful discussions which would lead to increase in your knowledge. You'll get a lot of exposure which would raise your level ultimately!

Hope this makes sense!