Workplace Multiplier by Tola Akinsulire

January 21, 2026

Welcome to the Workplace Multiplier newsletter. Published Monday to Friday, equipping you to achieve your professional goals faster and without burnout or overwhelm.

The meeting that should have been an email

Howdy ,

You've been in that meeting.

The one where 8 people spent 60 minutes discussing something that could've been resolved in a 3-sentence email.

Here's the truth: most professionals confuse presence with productivity.

You think showing up to every meeting signals commitment. It doesn't. It signals you haven't decided what actually deserves your attention.

The cost? 60 minutes you'll never get back. Multiplied by 8 people. That's 8 hours of organizational capacity burned on a decision that required 5 minutes of focused thinking.

While going in for a meeting, one persons in the meeting, a much senior colleague mentioned, “I have a meeting with an external party by in an hour that I want you to join”. I declined.

Not because I had another meeting. But because I could see that this was just adding me as a space filler.

The meeting with the external party had been set well before time. If they didn’t think I should have been part of it earlier, I am not going to give up my agenda to run towards theirs.

I am protecting my focus & energy.

You should be doing that too.

Your move for today: before you accept the next meeting invite, ask one question: "Can this be resolved without a meeting?"

If yes, decline the meeting. Send the 3-sentence message or email instead.

Protect your calendar like you protect your reputation. Because how you spend your time is your reputation.

If you're ready to reclaim your calendar and focus on work that actually advances your career, reply "RECLAIM" and let's talk about working one-on-one.

As always, keep winning at work and in life.

Tola Akinsulire

Your Strategic Workplace Mentor