Tips for Improving Organizational Messaging

Despite companies blasting out updates via Slack, email, and town halls, half the workforce still misses key information. That’s not just a communication gap; it’s a performance issue. When employees don’t get timely, relevant updates, they can’t align with priorities or feel motivated to act. And it’s not just frontline employees who are left out. Engineers deep in code, marketers across time zones, anyone not looped in at the right time or in the right way can also miss out. From my experience as a CHRO across global tech firms, I’ve learned what actually drives inclusive and effective communication. Here are tactics that work: -Morning standups with talking points from leadership -Digital messaging in an easy-to-find app -Physical communications (lunchroom posters, desk drops) for offline teams -Short video messages via QR codes -Targeted updates on Slack, mobile, and email -All-hands meetings that foster connection, not just information I loved this Nectar HR guide on inclusive internal comms: https://lnkd.in/g58S5syU One key stat: 89% of employees say regular leader communication boosts engagement. That’s material. Tactics matter, but true impact comes from a thoughtful strategy: segment messages by team, role, and language, and choose the right formats. When comms fall short, alignment and engagement suffer. People assume, check out, or move on. As leaders, we must do more than check the box—we must ensure everyone hears what matters, when it matters. What’s really working in your internal comms strategy? #InternalComms #EmployeeEngagement #InclusiveLeadership #HRTech #PeopleStrategy

Leaders -- Here’s the Harsh Truth About Communication. When I meet with a prospective client "partner" I often hear about their problems: poor/declining customer service, employee turnover, lack of engagement, retention issues, conflict, etc. All the typical "symptoms". And then once I start working with them, I find out the real disease: COMMUNICATION. My suggestion is always relatively simple. Communicate regularly. Planned. Scheduled. Various ways. No matter what. If you’re not intentionally and regularly communicating with your team, you are communicating—you’re just letting gossip, rumors, and speculation do it for you. Something always fills the VOID. When communication is irregular or reactive, here’s what fills the silence: 🚫 Rumors: Employees start guessing at decisions and motives. 🚫 Gossip: Small issues get inflated into full-blown problems. 🚫 Distrust: People stop believing the official word, even when you do share it. 🚫 Disconnection: Teams drift, priorities blur, and momentum dies. Your silence creates a vacuum—and nature (and workplace culture) hates a vacuum. The fix? Planned, consistent communication. Not just when there’s a crisis, not just when you “have time,” but on a predictable rhythm that your team can rely on. They NEED this. The simple fix: The 4x4 Communication Framework 4 Key Topics to cover every time: ✅ Wins & successes ✅ Challenges & roadblocks ✅ What’s coming next ✅ How the team is making an impact 4 Regular Touchpoints each month: Daily or Weekly team huddle (15 mins) Weekly written update (email or Slack post) Weekly or Bi-weekly one-on-ones (20–30 mins) Quarterly or Monthly all-hands or department meeting You may think you’re “too busy” to communicate like this. Here’s the truth: you’re already paying the cost of not doing it—low morale, disengagement, and mistrust. Regular, planned communication is not an extra task. It's just not a nice to have. It's a MUST have. It’s the bloodstream of your leadership. Need some help in getting started? Reach or DM me. I would love to chat with you!

6:47pm. I'm ripped away from my kids arguing over garlic rolls as a Slack message from my boss pops up. "Hey can you hop in my Zoom for a second?" My stomach tightens. I swear the rotini instantly goes ice cold on my fork. Then... panic. It's after work hours. They want to talk face to face. Am I about to get more tasks when I'm already drowning? Is there a problem with my work? Did I miss a deadline? Who just quit? I'm fired. I'm definitely fired. Honest to god the best workplace tip I ever received was: QUESTION + CONTEXT The second part always get's left out. We've all received messages like: - "How's [project] coming along?" - "How's [person] doing?" - "How are you using [tool]?" Each one launches a tiny stress bomb into your day. Each one pulls you out of flow state or family time. The leaders I respect most write differently: + "Hey can you come in my office real quick? I'd like to discuss the timeline for the new campaign to make sure I'm giving you enough time and focus to make it A+ work." + "Can you hop in my Zoom for a second? I want to get your thoughts on the new UI mockups." + "How's [project] coming along? I'm thinking about featuring it in next month's all-hands." This simple change doesn't just reduce anxiety. It shows respect for your time. It allows you to prepare mentally. It transforms every interaction from interruption to invitation. It takes 5 extra seconds. The ROI is immeasurable. It's crazy how many leaders still don't realize the anxiety their "quick question" messages create... Yet the fix is absurdly simple. Five. Extra. Seconds. Context included. Respect conveyed. There's a hidden superpower in those five seconds... if you know how to use them.

I’ve learned two big lessons over the last couple of weeks. 1. If you want to go viral on LinkedIn, post a relatable niche Beyoncé meme. 2. Almost every comms pro has a horror story about how they found out about a major announcement on short notice or after the fact. That’s a big problem for our industry Would leaders of a company give the finance team 24 hours to prepare an earnings report? Or give a programmer 24 hours to code and test a new software product before launching it? So why do they think it’s ok for an important message? Like any other profession, we need adequate time to do our best work. So what can you do to make sure the comms team is kept in the loop? 🤝 Build relationships - Regularly connect with leaders and business partners. - Ask what keeps them up at night. - Discover what “great communication” looks like to them. - Listen for upcoming initiatives that could impact key stakeholders and tell them you need to be involved. Don’t wait to be asked! 👩🏫 Teach people how to work with you - Create a clear process for communication requests. - Shift their requests from “We need an email” to “Here’s the business challenge—what’s the best way to solve it?” - Stick to your process—consistency builds credibility. 🙋♂️ Be in the room - Show up to project meetings—you can’t influence what you don’t know. - Anticipate key company moments and ask to be included in the planning meetings. - Identify communication risks before they become urgent. - Speak up! Your perspective shapes strategy, not just messaging. 📈 Use Data to prove your impact - Leaders trust numbers—use engagement metrics, survey data and case studies. - Demonstrate how poor communication creates risk. - Connect your work to business outcomes like retention, engagement or compliance. - Share success stories—help leaders see the value of proactive communication. What do you do to show your leaders and business partners that communication should be a priority, not an afterthought? #ChangeCommunication #InternalCommunication #StrategicCommunication #ChangeManagement #CorporateCommunication #SwingCommInsights

Every executive faces a core challenge: Misalignment. Communication misfires create chaos. Teams wander in confusion. I learned this the hard way. As a leader, I used to cram messages with too much information. The result? Lost efforts. Frustrated teams. Unmet goals. Here's the thing: Complicated messages get lost, while simple, repeated ones resonate. Simplicity is key. 1. Focus on one message at a time 2. Repeat it consistently across all channels 3. Ensure every team member is on the same page Here’s how I implement this: - I distill my message down to its essence - I communicate it in team meetings and emails - I reinforce it in one-on-one conversations - I ensure alignment by soliciting feedback It’s not just about saying something once. It’s about embedding the message in the organization's fabric. Clear communication builds trust and empowers teams. By simplifying and repeating, leaders cut through the noise. How do you ensure your message lands clearly with your team? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ♻️ Repost to share with your network 💡 Follow Julia LeFevre for more Leadership content 📢 DM or email me at julia@braverestoration for workshops, coaching and speaking