Workplace Multiplier by Tola Akinsulire

December 12, 2025

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

He earned it. It destroyed him.

Howdy ,

I have seen this happen.

A consistent top performer, a senior manager role opened, and he was the obvious choice.

Months later, he is burnt out from the new responsibility.

What happened?

He had incredible Edge (capability). His skills were exceptional.

He had terrible Foundation (capacity). He couldn't handle the pressure of managing others' performance, client escalations, and political complexity.

The sequence was wrong.

The firm developed his Edge for years. They never built his Foundation. Then they promoted him into a role that required both—and he shattered under pressure he couldn't sustain.

This is expensive:

•    His medication costs for all the times he had to visit the hospital

•    Months of subpar team performance

•    Client relationships damaged during his struggle

•    The political capital he lost during this time

•    The time it will take him to be considered for anything “big” again

But here's the part that kills me:

This was completely predictable. And preventable.

If he had spent even six months building Foundation before that promotion - stress management systems, emotional regulation practices, sustainable work structures - he would have thrived.

Instead, he got skills training. Communication workshops. Strategic thinking courses.

All Edge development. Zero Foundation building.

The result: Success he couldn't sustain.

This happens thousands of times daily across organizations worldwide. Talented people breaking under success they weren't prepared to handle.

The fix isn't working less. It's building the capacity to handle more.

Next week, I'm going to show you a framework that prevents this pattern - for yourself and everyone you care about.

Enjoy your weekend.

Keep winning at work and in life

Tola Akinsulire

Your Strategic Workplace Mentor

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