A clear internal comms strategy that keeps employees informed and aligned.
Set clear objectives
Define whether internal comms is driving awareness, adoption, culture, or change readiness.
Objectives determine the channels, cadence, and tone.
Build a channel hierarchy
Use a primary channel for urgent updates and a secondary channel for culture and community.
Overlapping channels create confusion and lower readership.
Focus on manager enablement
Managers are the strongest communication channel in most organisations.
Provide them with short, clear talking points.
Measure understanding
Use pulse surveys or short Q&A sessions to check message clarity.
Understanding is a better metric than open rates.
Protect attention
Limit long, low-priority updates. Fewer messages with higher value increase engagement.
Attention is the main scarce resource in internal comms.
FAQ
What cadence works best for internal updates?
Weekly for routine updates and immediate messages for urgent issues.
Should leaders communicate directly?
Yes, direct leader communication builds trust and reduces rumours.
How can we reduce internal comms fatigue?
Reduce low-value updates and keep messages short and purposeful.
What is the most important internal comms metric?
Understanding and action, not raw open rates.