Workplace Multiplier by Tola Akinsulire

April 23, 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.

, are you saying what they need to hear?

Howdy ,

Yesterday, I shared some observations about presenting to live humans versus screens, and introduced the three building blocks of effective communication.

Today, I want to dive deeper into the first one:

Say what they need to hear.

Have you ever been in a meeting where someone rambles about their priorities while everyone's eyes glaze over? They're saying what they want to say rather than what you need to hear.

Here is something you should always remember.

Before you stand in front of someone, a boss, a colleague, or a group of people, to discuss something with them, ask yourself this:

"What problem does what I share solve for them?"

Yes, it could be as simple as helping them discover the next decision they need to make or giving them peace of mind that things have been sorted out.

You need to know your audience enough to know what they need.

The result? Full attention, rapid approval, and a reputation as someone who "gets it."

The Secret to Being Heard: The Audience-First Framework

Before your next important conversation, ask yourself these three questions:

1. What problem keeps my audience up at night?
2. What outcome would make this conversation valuable to them?
3. What's the most relevant information they need right now?

This applies everywhere - from executive presentations to conversations with your team, clients, or even your spouse.

Your Challenge for Today:

For your next significant conversation today, please take 2 minutes to write down what the other person actually needs to hear, not what you're eager to tell them.

Then structure your communication around that need.

Let me know how this shift impacts your conversations.

Fellow Workplace Multiplier,

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

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