Workplace Multiplier by Tola Akinsulire

April 10, 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.

Want Colleagues to Actually listen? Reduce this Invisible Barrier

Howdy ,

Yesterday, I introduced the idea of becoming a "safe space" for others to improve how your communication lands.

Today, I want to reveal a powerful way to achieve this: reducing power distance.

What Is Power Distance?

Power distance is the invisible force field between you and others based on perceived hierarchy, status, or authority. It's that sensation when someone feels they can't be fully honest with their boss, or when a junior team member hesitates to share an innovative idea or let you know what is really on their mind.

Dutch social psychologist Geert Hofstede first identified this concept, and it explains so much about why workplace communication fails.

I wrote a bit in detail about Geert Hotstede’s work in my book, "Winning Beyond Border: Achieving Success at Work in a New Country".

I’ll keep it short and sweet here.

Why Power Distance Kills Communication

When power distance is high:

•    People filter their responses

•    Genuine feedback disappears

•    Innovation stalls

•    Trust erodes

I witnessed this firsthand while working and leading teams across three different cultural contexts. In high power distance environments, meetings were polite but unproductive. People agreed verbally but silently disagreed.

How to Reduce Power Distance and Create Safety

Here are three practical ways to reduce power distance and make yourself a safe space for open communication:

1.  Ask before telling

Begin conversations by genuinely asking for input before sharing your perspective. This subtle shift signals you value their thoughts.

2.  Acknowledge your mistakes first.

When you openly admit your errors and uncertainties, you give others permission to be human too.

3.  Elevate autonomy

Phrases like "What do you think we should do here?" or "How would you approach this?" reduce power distance instantly.

The Transformation I've Seen

When I implemented these approaches with my teams, something remarkable happened. In meetings, after I had deliberately reduced power distance with the teams I lead, participation increased significantly. Ideas flowed more freely. Problems surfaced earlier when they were still manageable.

Most importantly, I could communicate difficult messages that would have previously been rejected.

They didn’t mind the bad news when I delivered it. Because I was committed to being a safe space for them.

Your Communication Challenge for Today

Try this simple technique in your next conversation: When someone brings you an idea or challenge, respond first with "Tell me more about that" instead of immediately offering your solution.

Watch how this small shift changes the entire dynamic and creates the safe space we talked about yesterday.

Tomorrow, I'll show you how to combine both sides of our communication equation – saying what you need to say while giving others what they need to hear.

As always, 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 Border: Achieving Success at Work in a New Country". Get it here

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