Ultimate Guide

Internal communication, an ultimate guide

March 7, 2025
Explore our ultimate guide to internal communication, packed with insights, challenges, strategies, and tools to help your organization communicate with clarity and impact.

Table of Contents

  • What is internal communication?
  • Why internal communication matters
  • The real-world challenges companies face
  • Best practices for stronger internal communication
  • How technology supports communication
  • How to measure success and keep improving
  • How Diggspace helps modern teams communicate
  • Related articles
  • FAQs

What is internal communication?

Let’s start simple: internal communication is how information moves within your organization, from leadership to teams, between departments, and peer-to-peer. It’s how people stay informed, make decisions, and feel connected to the company’s bigger picture.

But internal communication isn’t just about sharing updates. It’s about building culture, fostering alignment, and making sure everyone, from new hires to senior execs, knows what’s happening and why it matters.

Great internal communication means fewer misunderstandings, faster execution, and a stronger sense of belonging across the company.

 

 

Why internal communication matters

The modern workplace moves fast. Without solid internal communication, things fall apart: teams operate in silos, projects lose momentum, and employee engagement & trust fades.

But when it’s done well? It drives everything from employee engagement to business performance. According to HR Brew, employees who receive regular updates are 2x more likely to say they understand their company’s goals and mission.

And it goes beyond clarity, good communication builds trust. It keeps people motivated, reduces turnover, and fuels a healthy culture. It’s not an add-on. It’s a business essential.

 

 

The real-world challenges companies face

Internal communication isn’t easy—especially in a hybrid world. Most organizations run into roadblocks, and many don’t even realize it until things start slipping.

Let’s talk about the most common triggers.

🔹 Siloed information

Departments that work in isolation create gaps in knowledge. One team doesn’t know what the other is doing, and that slows everything down.

Worse? It creates duplicate work and conflicting priorities.

 

🔹 Change fatigue

Change is constant. But without clear communication, change becomes chaos. Gartner reports that 73% of change-affected employees experience moderate to high stress—and it impacts performance and morale.

 

🔹 Too many tools, not enough clarity

Email. Chat. Video calls. Task managers. Newsletters. It’s a digital overload.

Without clear processes and integrated platforms, people waste time jumping between tools, hurting productivity and increasing burnout.

 

🔹 Weak culture connection

Gartner also highlights that employees who feel culturally connected are 37% more productive. But if leadership fails to communicate values clearly and consistently, that connection breaks down.

Best practices for stronger internal communication

Enhancing internal communication is pivotal for organizational success. Here are five best practices, to guide your strategy:

 

🔹Communicate with intent, not volume

Effective communication prioritizes quality over quantity. Bombarding employees with messages can lead to information overload and disengagement. Instead, focus on delivering clear, concise, and relevant information. As highlighted in The Times, concise and impactful messages keep employees informed and engaged.

 

🔹Make space for feedback

Two-way communication channels are essential. Regular surveys, open forums, and casual check-ins empower employees to voice their opinions and concerns, fostering a culture of transparency and trust. Forbes emphasizes the importance of listening to employees to create an 'uncomfortably transparent' culture.

 

🔹Train leaders as communicators

Managers and team leads play a crucial role in disseminating information. Providing them with training on effective communication strategies ensures that messages are delivered consistently and clearly throughout the organization. There is the need for leaders to present information with authenticity, simplicity, and relevance.

 

🔹Segment your messages

Not all information is pertinent to every employee. Tailoring communication based on departments, roles, or locations ensures that employees receive relevant information, reducing noise and increasing engagement. 

 

🔹Embed communication into your culture

Integrating effective communication practices into the organizational culture reinforces their importance. Consistent messaging across various channels, helps in building trust and aligning employees with company goals.

 

By implementing strategies like these, organizations can foster a more engaged, informed, and cohesive workforce, driving overall success.

 

How technology supports communication

Let’s face it, how we communicate at work has changed dramatically. We’re no longer gathering around the coofee machine or relying solely on email threads. Technology has become the backbone of internal communication, and it’s reshaping the way teams connect, share, and collaborate.

But with so many tools out there, it’s not just about having technology, it’s about having the right technology, used in the best way.

 

🔹From clutter to clarity

One of the biggest benefits of modern tech is its ability to simplify how information flows. Centralized platforms and collaboration tools help teams work together in real time, access shared documents, and stay aligned, whether they’re in the same office or scattered across the globe.

But there's a catch: too many disconnected tools can lead to digital clutter and communication fatigue. According to a 2023 article from Harvard Business Review, ineffective digital collaboration tools can actually reduce productivity and create confusion if not integrated properly. That’s why it’s critical to choose platforms that are easy to use and tailored to your company’s communication goals.

 

🔹Intranets: a missed opportunity?

Intranets were once the go-to space for internal updates and resources, but engagement is dropping. According to Forbes, only 13% of employees use their intranet daily, and 31% never use it at all. This shows that static, outdated platforms aren’t cutting it anymore. Employees expect dynamic, intuitive spaces where they can interact, not just consume information.

 

🔹The remote reality

As hybrid and remote work continue to be the norm for many, the need for accessible communication tools has never been greater. Forbes reports that as of mid-2024, 13% of U.S. full-time employees work fully remote, and another 26% follow a hybrid model. That means nearly 40% of your workforce isn’t in the office every day.

In this environment, mobile-friendly platforms, cloud-based tools, and asynchronous communication channels are essential. It’s not just about real-time messaging, it’s about giving people access to important updates and resources, no matter where or when they work.

 

🔹Smarter tools, better insights

Beyond the basics, emerging tech is pushing internal communication into a smarter future. AI-powered assistants, automation, and analytics are giving comms teams powerful new capabilities. For example:

AI can help personalize content for different employee segments or recommend relevant information based on user behavior.
- Automation can handle routine tasks like reminders, approvals, or content scheduling.
Analytics tools offer insights into message reach, engagement rates, and sentiment, so you can actually measure what’s working (and what’s not).

According to Gartner, organizations that use data and analytics in their communication strategies are 3.5x more likely to outperform peers in employee engagement metrics.

Bottom line?

Technology can either empower or overwhelm. The difference lies in choosing tools that integrate well, match your culture, and make it easier, not harder, for people to connect and communicate.

How to measure success and keep improving

You can’t improve what you don’t measure. To really understand if your internal communication is working, track metrics like:

  • Employee engagement: Are people reacting, responding, and participating?
  • Intranet usage: How often are employees using your platform to find or share info?
  • Feedback quality: Are employees giving thoughtful feedback or just checking boxes?
  • Message clarity: Are messages understood the first time, or do they spark confusion?
  • Surveys, pulse checks, and platform analytics can give you a clear picture of what’s working—and what’s not.

The key? 

Don’t just collect data. Act on it. Let your employees know you’re listening—and adapting.

How Diggspace boosts internal communication

At Diggspace, we know internal communication isn’t just a “nice to have.” It’s the foundation of an aligned, productive, and happy team. That’s why we built a platform that helps companies communicate better from day one.

Whether you're sending a company-wide announcement, creating a space for team discussions, or helping new employees find what they need Diggspace makes it easy.

With features like:

  • Centralized hub: Keep all updates, documents, and discussions in one place.
  • AI-powered assistant (Diggy): search and develop content
  • Out-of-the-box integrations: Seamlessly connect with tools employees already use and access to APIs to develop your own integrations.
  • Content scheduling and analytics

Whether you’re onboarding new employees, sharing product updates, or launching company-wide initiatives, Diggspace helps you boost internal communication efforts and employee engagement.

FAQs
Real-world Impact: Victoria Seguros

A notable example of Diggspace’s impact on employee engagement is its successful implementation at Victoria Seguros, a leading Portuguese insurance company. By leveraging Diggspace’s theme channels, personalized announcements, and seamless integrations with essential tools, Victoria Seguros significantly improved internal communication and fostered a more connected and collaborative work environment. As a direct result, the company experienced increased employee satisfaction, enhanced teamwork, and improved overall organizational performance.

Ready to revolutionize your team’s collaboration?

Start exploring the possibilities with Diggspace today.

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