Workplace Multiplier by Tola Akinsulire

August 19, 2025

Welcome to the Workplace Multiplier newsletter. Published Monday to Friday, equipping you to achieve your professional goals faster and without burnout or overwhelm by leveraging The Triple Win Method.

This Is Why Smart People Get Ignored

Howdy ,

Picture this:

You're in a meeting, explaining your brilliant idea to the leadership team. You've done your research, your logic is sound, and you're passionate about the solution.

But as you speak, you notice glazed looks. Someone checks their phone. The VP starts shuffling papers.

Your idea dies in that room, not because it was bad, but because your message got lost in translation.

This is what I call "The Message Distortion Field" – and it's silently sabotaging more careers than poor performance ever could.

Here's the thing most people miss about communication...

We think communication is about having something important to say. But that's only half the equation. The other half? Saying it in a way the other person can easily understand and act upon.

I learned this the hard way during my early career. I sent an email where I have carefully laid out something important that the people at the top should be able to understand and act upon.

Guess what? Crickets.

That's when I realized: It's not just what you know – it's how you share what you know.

The Framework That Changed Everything

After studying how the best communicators operate, I discovered they all use frameworks. Not fancy MBA theories, but simple structures that organize thoughts and make complex ideas stick.

One of my favorites is PREP (Point, Reason, Evidence, Point):

·       Point: Start with your main message

·       Reason: Explain why it matters

·       Evidence: Provide supporting details

·       Point: Reinforce your main message

Let me show you how this works:

Without PREP: "So we've been looking at our monthly reporting process, and some interesting patterns are emerging. The time it takes to compile our reports has been fluctuating, and we've noticed some bottlenecks in our workflow. Different departments submit their data at different times, and there's a lot of back-and-forth to get the information we need. I think we should explore some options to streamline this process and maybe implement some changes to make things more efficient..."

With PREP: "We need to cut our monthly reporting time by half (Point). Current delays are preventing leadership from making timely decisions and costing us competitive opportunities (Reason). Last month, we spent 40 hours compiling reports that should have taken 20 hours, and 60% of the delays came from chasing missing data from departments (Evidence). By implementing a standardized submission deadline with automated reminders, we'll deliver reports 2 weeks faster starting next month (Point)."

See the difference? Same information, but the second version gets to the point and sticks.

Why Most Smart People Struggle With This

I've worked with brilliant professionals across three continents. Don’t be surprised to hear this. The pattern is always the same: the smartest people often communicate the poorest.

Why? Because they know too much.

When you're an expert, you forget what it's like not to know what you know. You assume others share your context. You lead with background instead of bottom line.

But here's what I've discovered: The best communicators aren't the smartest people in the room – they're the people who can make the smartest ideas accessible to everyone in the room.

Your Communication Style Shapes Your Career Trajectory

Think about the leaders you admire. I bet they share one trait: they can explain complex ideas simply. They make you feel empowered after talking with them, not more confused.

Think about Obama and Trump, Yes, Donald J Trump. Neither of them complicates what they say. You understand, even if you don’t agree with them.

You should be doing that too.

This isn't just about presentations or big meetings. It's about every email you send, every conversation you have, every time you need someone to understand and act on your ideas.

Your ability to communicate clearly determines:

·       Whether your ideas get implemented

·       How quickly you build trust with stakeholders

·       Whether people seek your input on important decisions

·       How fast you advance in your career

The Communication Multiplier Effect

When you master clear communication, something magical happens. People start coming to you not just for your expertise, but for your ability to make sense of complex situations.

You become a translator – someone who can take technical concepts and make them business-relevant. Someone who can take business strategy and make it actionable for teams.

This is how you multiply your impact beyond your individual contribution.

Your Next Step

Communication skills aren't born – they're built. And like any skill, the first step is knowing where you stand today.

That's why I've created a comprehensive Professional Communication Skills Assessment. It evaluates six core areas that determine your communication effectiveness, from verbal clarity to emotional intelligence to handling difficult conversations.

I first developed it while working with my one-on-one coaching clients. The assessment takes about 15 minutes and gives you a detailed development plan with specific actions to improve your weakest areas.

I don’t want this to be one of those things you sign up for and forget. This is why I will only give you access to the assessment on Saturday. Yes, the weekend will be your play zone to take your communication to the next level.

You can sign up here

Remember: Your ideas deserve to be heard, understood, and acted upon. The only question is whether you're presenting them in a way that makes that possible.

Here's to making your brilliant ideas impossible to ignore,

Keep winning at work and in life.

Tola Akinsulire

Your Strategic Workplace Mentor