
Kyle Poyar's Growth Unhinged Playbook That Scales
A friendly breakdown of Kyle Poyar's Growth Unhinged approach, plus side-by-side lessons from Jarno Duursma and Finn Thormeier.
Kyle Poyar's Growth Unhinged Playbook That Scales
I stumbled into Kyle Poyar's feed expecting the usual growth advice soup. Instead, I found a creator with 102,215 followers, 20,962 connections, and a 44.00 Hero Score who still writes like he's trying to be useful, not famous. That combo is rarer than it should be.
So I went down the rabbit hole. I wanted to understand what makes his posts feel so repeatable and so shareable, while staying grounded in real operator work. Then I pulled in two other strong creators for contrast: Jarno Duursma (AI and future-of-work energy) and Finn Thormeier (executive thought leadership as a craft).
Here's what stood out:
- Kyle wins by being a curator-operator: specific, structured, and relentlessly practical.
- All three have the same Hero Score (44.00), but they earn it with different trust signals.
- Kyle's posting cadence and packaging feel like a newsletter that happens to live on LinkedIn.
Kyle Poyar's Performance Metrics
Here's what's interesting: Kyle's raw audience is big, but not celebrity-big. The real signal is the combination of scale (102k followers) plus consistency (4.1 posts per week) plus a Hero Score of 44.00, which suggests he isn't just broadcasting - he's getting real reactions relative to his base.
Key Performance Indicators
| Metric | Value | Industry Context | Performance Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Followers | 102,215 | Industry average | ๐ Elite |
| Hero Score | 44.00 | Exceptional (Top 5%) | ๐ Top Tier |
| Engagement Rate | N/A | Above Average | ๐ Solid |
| Posts Per Week | 4.1 | Active | ๐ Active |
| Connections | 20,962 | Extensive Network | ๐ Extensive |
What Makes Kyle Poyar's Content Work
Before we get tactical, a quick side-by-side snapshot helped me frame the differences. Same Hero Score across the board, but three very different paths to attention.
| Creator | Followers | Hero Score | Core Promise (my take) | Likely Audience |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Poyar | 102,215 | 44.00 | Real growth insights, packaged as plays and case studies | Founders, GTM, growth, product marketing |
| Jarno Duursma | 58,584 | 44.00 | Make AI futures understandable (and actionable) | AI-curious professionals, speakers, leaders |
| Finn Thormeier | 41,320 | 44.00 | Help execs build authority and narrative on LinkedIn | Founders, CEOs, comms, agencies |
Now, Kyle's core strategies.
1. The curator-operator voice (specificity is the brand)
The first thing I noticed is Kyle rarely sounds like he's "performing thought leadership." He sounds like an operator who did the work, took notes, then shared the notes cleanly. Even when he's curating others, he names the inputs: who he talked to, what he observed, what changed.
He also uses a very particular kind of credibility: numbers, timelines, and constraints. Not vague wins like "we grew fast." More like "we tested 3 routes," "here are 9 plays," "this worked in 30 days." That specificity does a lot of heavy lifting.
Key Insight: Write like you're sending an internal memo to smart teammates, then publish it.
This works because LinkedIn rewards clarity and confidence, but people trust you faster when your claims come with receipts. Kyle's receipts are usually structure and detail, not ego.
Strategy Breakdown:
| Element | Kyle Poyar's Approach | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Proof | Concrete numbers, timeframes, named examples | Reduces skepticism fast |
| Authority | Curated operator insights ("I spoke with...") | Borrowed credibility feels earned |
| Tone | Modern professional, slightly casual | Easy to read, still serious |
2. Packaging that fits the scroll (lists are not lazy, they're kind)
A lot of creators do lists. Kyle does lists that feel like a product. There's a clear lead-in, a reason the list exists, then items that are consistent in shape. You can skim and still learn. And if you're busy (who isn't?), you can save it and come back.
But here's the thing: the list is usually not the whole post. It's the delivery mechanism for a point of view. He uses lists to make a claim feel concrete.
Comparison with Industry Standards:
| Aspect | Industry Average | Kyle Poyar's Approach | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | One big paragraph, then a take | Tight intro, proof, then numbered payload | Better retention on mobile |
| Takeaways | Generic tips | Plays you can copy, often with constraints | More saves and shares |
| Consistency | Format changes every post | Repeatable patterns | Readers know what they're getting |
And if you compare this to Jarno and Finn, the packaging difference pops.
| Packaging Trait | Kyle | Jarno | Finn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Default unit | Plays, case snippets, frameworks | Concepts, implications, examples | Positioning, narrative, authority systems |
| Read experience | Newsletter-style scan | Educational, perspective-led | Strategic, executive-friendly |
| Share trigger | "This is useful" | "This is important" | "This is smart" |
3. De-risking the reader (constraints beat hype)
Kyle's posts often do something subtle: they anticipate the reader's inner objection and answer it before it becomes a comment.
Example pattern: "You don't need to be X." Or "This isn't about doing everything." Or "Most of these can be built with tools you already have." That kind of language invites action, because it lowers the cost of trying.
And honestly, this is where Kyle feels different from a lot of growth content. Growth content can get weirdly moral. Like if you're not doing it, you're behind. Kyle's stuff is more like: here's what works, here's how to try it safely, here's what I'd watch out for.
If you map this across the three creators:
| Trust Builder | Kyle | Jarno | Finn |
|---|---|---|---|
| How they reduce fear | Constraints, steps, real examples | Explanations, human framing of AI | Systems, positioning, executive context |
| What they protect you from | Wasted effort and fluffy tactics | Confusion and AI hype panic | Posting without strategy and credibility drift |
4. The bridge to owned media (CTA without the cringe)
Kyle's CTA style is usually calm: read more, subscribe, see the full breakdown. Not a hard sell. And because he gives away so much in the post itself, the link feels like a bonus, not a trap.
What surprised me is how much this matters for long-term creator growth. If your posts are only teasers, people get annoyed. If your posts are complete, people trust you. Kyle threads that needle.
Also, the timing note is practical: the data suggests 13:00-15:00 UTC and 17:00-18:00 UTC as strong posting windows. If you're building a habit, having two time blocks helps. Post, then engage, then move on with your life.
Their Content Formula
Kyle's formula is not magic. It's repeatable. And that's the point.
Content Structure Breakdown
| Component | Kyle Poyar's Approach | Effectiveness | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hook | Clear tension or claim in 1-2 sentences | High | Tells you immediately if it's for you |
| Body | Proof, context, then structured payload (often a list) | High | Scannable and dense without feeling heavy |
| CTA | Soft link-forward close after value | High | Feels earned, not forced |
The Hook Pattern
Kyle tends to open with a belief people have, then a friction point that makes it true.
Template:
"Most teams say they want [outcome], but [real constraint] keeps getting in the way."
A couple examples of how this plays out (in his style):
- "Most teams say they want to use AI, but leaders don't trust the outputs."
- "Everyone wants growth, but few teams run the experiments that actually teach them something."
Why this works: it creates instant recognition. You're not reading an abstract take, you're reading a problem you already felt.
The Body Structure
Kyle doesn't wander. He stacks.
Body Structure Analysis:
| Stage | What They Do | Example Pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | State the tension clearly | "People want X, but Y blocks it." |
| Development | Add proof and context | "Over the last month, I saw..." |
| Transition | Invite the reader into the payload | "If you want to copy what's working:" |
| Closing | Reframe why it works + link | "These work because they're constrained..." |
One more thing I noticed: he uses short paragraphs like pacing markers. It sounds small, but it changes how your brain experiences the post. You keep moving.
The CTA Approach
Kyle's CTA psychology is basically: "I already helped you. If you want the full version, it's here." It's low-pressure, which makes it high-converting over time.
A simple Kyle-style CTA template:
"See the full breakdown (templates included): [link]"
If you're building your own, the trick is to earn the click. Give away the core idea in the post, then offer the depth as the click.
3 Actionable Strategies You Can Use Today
-
Write one "operator memo" post per week - pick one real thing you learned, add one number, then list 5 takeaways people can copy.
-
Use a consistent payload format - keep your list item structure the same for a month so readers learn how to skim you.
-
Add a de-risking line before your CTA - something like "You don't need fancy tools" or "Start with a small version" so people actually try it.
Key Takeaways
- Kyle's edge is packaging plus specificity - he's not louder, he's clearer, and he makes the work feel copyable.
- Same Hero Score doesn't mean same strategy - Jarno earns attention through AI translation, Finn through executive narrative systems, Kyle through practical GTM plays.
- Consistency beats novelty - Kyle's repeatable structure is a feature, not a limitation.
- Soft CTAs win when the post is already complete - people click because they trust you, not because you baited them.
If you try one thing, try this: write the post you'd want to save if you were the reader. Then ship it.
Meet the Creators
Kyle Poyar
Growth Unhinged | Real-life growth insights, playbooks, and case studies
๐ United States ยท ๐ข Industry not specified
Jarno Duursma
LinkedIn Top Voice AI | Keynote speaker | Artificial Intelligence | 16 yrs experience | Future Focus | Tech Expert | Generative AI | ChatGPT | Deepfakes | Personal Growth | Spreker
๐ Netherlands ยท ๐ข Industry not specified
Finn Thormeier
Founder, P33 | Executive Thought Leadership Agency - Activate your Founder/CEO/Execs on LinkedIn
๐ Germany ยท ๐ข Industry not specified
This analysis was generated by ViralBrain's AI content intelligence platform.