Story & Influence: Bring People Into Your Good Sense

You can have a great idea and still watch it die in a meeting.

Not because the idea is wrong. Because it never lands. It floats in the air, sounds “interesting,” then gets buried under the next agenda item. Everyone nods. Nobody moves. You walk out thinking, “How did they not see it?”

They didn’t enter your good sense.

Influence is not magic. It’s communication that makes your thinking easy to follow—and your next step easy to say yes to.

The Problem Isn’t Your Idea. It’s the Transfer.

Most professionals communicate like they’re handing over a document.

They explain the background. They give details. They show effort. They hope people will connect the dots and arrive at the same conclusion.

But in real work, attention is limited. People are tired. Meetings are crowded. Everyone is carrying their own priorities.

So if you want ideas to turn into action, you have to transfer more than information.

You have to transfer judgment.

You have to bring people into your “good sense.”

A Familiar Scene: “Noted”

You send a long message.

You lay out the context. You attach the file. You explain the risks. You propose a fix. You even add a timeline.

Then you get the most Filipino reply in the world:

“Noted.”

That’s not agreement. That’s a parking slot.

Or you pitch an idea in a meeting and hear:

“Let’s align on that.” “Let’s revisit next week.” “Interesting. Sige.”

Translation: no decision today.

It’s not personal. It’s clarity.

People don’t act because they don’t know what you want them to do, or why it matters right now.

Stop Explaining. Start Moving.

Stop trying to sound complete. Start trying to create movement.

Movement happens when your communication does three things in order. It makes the situation clear. It makes the decision obvious. It makes the next step easy.

When you do that, you don’t need to “convince” people. You guide them.

Examples at Work

A supervisor notices repeated overtime because tasks are unclear. They don’t rant about workload. They bring a simple proposal.

“Here’s the situation: we’re losing two hours a day to rework. Here’s the decision: do we adopt one checklist for handoffs? My recommendation: we test it for one week in Team A. Next step: approve the test today.”

Now the meeting has a direction.

A project lead is tired of delayed approvals. They don’t complain about bureaucracy. They frame the cost.

“We’re stuck because approvals take five days. That delay is causing missed deadlines. We need a decision today: can we set a 24-hour approval rule for small requests under ₱____? I recommend we pilot it for one month. Next step: assign one approver and start Monday.”

Now the idea has an action.

A staff member wants to propose a new way of onboarding new hires. They don’t send a 10-page document. They make it easy to see.

“New hires keep asking the same questions, and it slows everyone down. We need a decision: can we create a one-page onboarding guide? I drafted a first version. Next step: if you approve, I’ll test it with the next hire and revise after one week.”

Now the proposal feels safe. It’s not a revolution. It’s a test.

The 30-Second Influence Pitch

If you want one simple tool you can use immediately, use this structure. Say it in one breath. Keep it plain.

Here’s the situation. Here’s the decision we need. Here’s my recommendation. Here’s the next step.

That’s it.

This structure does something powerful. It turns vague discussions into decision-ready conversations. It stops your ideas from drifting. It gives people a handle.

And it makes you look like someone who can lead thinking, not just share thoughts.

Create Your Stage

You don’t need a big audience to build influence.

Your stage can be a weekly team huddle. A project update email. A short Loom video. A one-page memo. A regular message thread where you share progress and decisions clearly.

When you consistently communicate with clarity, people start paying attention. Not because you’re entertaining, but because you reduce confusion. You save time. You help others decide.

That is influence.

Over time, your “stage” becomes a place where work moves.

From One Idea to a Movement

Movements don’t start with crowds. They start with repeatable language.

A phrase your team can remember. A simple rule people can apply. A habit that makes work easier.

When you can name the problem, frame the decision, and propose a next step—again and again—you don’t just share ideas. You create shared sense.

That’s how cultures shift.

Try This Today

Pick one idea you’ve been holding back.

Rewrite it using the 30-Second Influence Pitch:

Here’s the situation. Here’s the decision we need. Here’s my recommendation. Here’s the next step.

Then use it in your next meeting or message.

Because influence is not about talking more.

It’s about making it easier for people to see what you see—and do what you know needs to be done.