Workplace Multiplier by Tola Akinsulire

April 18, 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.

Your Next Career Superpower Hidden in Plain Sight

Howdy ,

Over the past two days, we've explored why we tend to overshare and why people don't take action after reading our messages.

Today, I want to focus on something even more fundamental:

Why your communication style is the single biggest factor in how others perceive your value.

In my years coaching high-performance professionals, I've observed something remarkable: It's rarely the smartest people who rise to the top – it's those who can also communicate most effectively.

They are good at communicating not only what they want others to do. They are also communicating the results they are delivering in a way that matters to the decision-makers.

This gets them noticed faster.

And it’s something you can also adopt.

The Multiplier Effect of Exceptional Communication

When you become known for clear, action-driving and result-focused communication:

1. You become the go-to problem solver: People naturally turn to those who make complex situations feel manageable

2. Your influence extends beyond your role: Even without positional authority, your ideas gain traction because they're easy to understand and implement

3. You create a perception of competence: Fair or not, humans equate clear communication with clear thinking

4. Decision-makers seek your input: Leaders value those who can articulate complex ideas simply because it makes their jobs easier

5. You build trust automatically: When people consistently understand what you mean and what you need, they develop confidence in everything you do

I've seen this play out now and again. Two professionals with identical technical skills – but the one who communicates with precision and clarity will advance faster, every time.

The Career Leverage Point

Think about it: Most workplace frustrations stem from communication failures.

• Projects derail because expectations weren't clear.
• Relationships deteriorate because messages were misinterpreted.
• Great ideas die because they weren't expressed in a way others could grasp.

When you solve this fundamental problem, you become invaluable.

Your Action Plan: Building Your Communication Brand

Here's how to become known for exceptional communication:

1. Audit your communication patterns: Save five recent important emails you've sent. Look for patterns of clarity versus confusion

2. Identify your signature flaw: We all have one – mine earlier on was burying action items in paragraphs of context

3. Create personal communication principles: Develop 3-5 rules you follow in all important communications (Example: "I always state required actions in the first two sentences")

4. Ask for specific feedback: Find a trusted colleague and ask them to rate your communications on clarity and actionability

5. Study the masters: Identify who in your organization has influence through communication and analyze their patterns

For your immediate next step: Choose one high-stakes communication coming up in the next week. Apply all the principles we've discussed over these three days, then note the difference in response compared to your typical approach.

One of the steps I took to address my flaw, "burying action items in paragraphs of context", was writing what I want from the person first.

Yes, I start the email with writing that - nothing else. This is usually just one or two sentences.

The next thing I do is add an introduction, and then I add a closing. It’s short, concise and doesn’t waste the time of the person on the other side.

Over time, I learned to finesse my “ask” and the rest of the content. But it still starts with the same thing - what do I want?

That’s my approach. Develop yours - an approach that gets you noticed because your communication is landing.

Remember, your career advancement isn't just about what you know – it's about how effectively you can transfer that knowledge to others in a way that drives action.

Keep winning at work and in life,

Tola Akinsulire

Your Strategic Workplace Mentor

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Want to get in on some of the lessons I have picked up in my career? Get my eBook "21 Lessons I Learned in My Career - A Primer to Help You Become Better at Work". Get it here

Do you work in a new country, or does your work involve working with people outside your country? Get my acclaimed book "Winning Beyond Borders: Achieving Success at Work in a New Country". Get it here

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