Over the past few months, we’ve been running workshops with a number of clients to help them tackle some tough communications challenges. The kind of challenges that’ve had people scratching their heads for a while, but it takes a bit of space, structure and fresh thinking to work out what to do next.    We’ve had lovely feedback. As one client told us:    “A big thanks for your session today, it got lots of praise after with people saying it was really valuable and well deli

The distributed workplace is no longer a contingency plan—it’s a core operating model. For internal communications professionals, the shift has elevated an old challenge to new heights: how do you maintain genuine human connection when your workforce is spread across homes, time zones, and work patterns? Connection has always been at the heart of effective IC. It’s what turns information into meaning, teams into communities, and employees into advocates. But with digital-firs

Choosing the right internal communication channels is one of the most important, and most overlooked, aspects of an effective internal communications strategy. Many organisations invest heavily in new tools and platforms as part of their employee communication strategy, yet still struggle to reach employees in a meaningful way. The challenge is rarely about access to channels. It’s about clarity, purpose and alignment. A strong internal communication channel strategy helps me

After years of working with organisations of all shapes and sizes, one thing has become very clear: great internal communication is rarely about doing more. It’s about doing a few things exceptionally well — consistently, thoughtfully and with intent. We’ve seen internal comms teams under huge pressure. More change. More channels. More stakeholders. More expectations. And yet, the organisations that really stand out aren’t the ones with the slickest platforms or the loudest c

At AB, we know when employee engagement is strong, everything else follows. Productivity rises, retention improves and company culture comes to life. But creating genuine engagement takes more than free coffee. It’s built on trust, clear internal communications, two-way conversation and meaningful connection from the inside out. For over 60 years, as one of the UK’s leading internal communications agencies, we’ve helped organisations across a multitude of sectors design emplo

What do you say when your chief financial officer wants to slash your internal comms budget? AB’s MD and Internal Comms Podcast host Katie Macaulay brings your attention to the following… 1. Engagement is a performance multiplier Gallup’s 25-year global study of 183,000-plus business units shows high engagement leads to 11 better business outcomes, including a 10% jump in customer loyalty, a 23% rise in profitability and a 63% fall in safety incidents. ‘The Relationship Betwe

Many internal communicators work in isolation, muddling through the challenges of being strategist, advisor, content manager, part-time designer, channel guru… the list goes on. It can be lonely out there, navigating the wild west of internal communications. And while IC’s profile has certainly evolved, community is often the key to sustained success. That’s an ethos Rachel Miller, one of the leading, best-known voices in the internal comms space in the UK, holds dear. In her

We’ve all heard the phase, “Bringing your whole self to work”. Maybe we’ve even tried it. But what does that actually mean? And how can we cultivate a work environment that makes it possible? Human-centric technologist Bob Watanabe recently joined Katie Macaulay on The Internal Comms Podcast to discuss just that. Growing up in rural Maine, Bob and his family were the only Asian family of Japanese descent. “I dealt with some experiences of being the only one in the room, bein

At AB, we believe the potential of audio in internal comms is huge. So, we’ve picked the following examples to inspire your next audio-as-internal-comms campaign. Get in touch if you want to know more. Giving voice notes a go According to WhatsApp, seven billion voice notes are sent every single day. But in our working lives, they are not that common. Generally, any voice notes sent at work are casual, peer-to-peer. We know of some managers dropping a voice note in their col

When IC guru Shel Holtz joined Katie Macaulay for episode 92 of The Internal Comms Podcast , they examined the risks and rewards of using AI at work. So, from AI CEOs to cutting the crap out of our working lives, how is this rapidly evolving tech transforming internal communications? Redefine leadership Could managers be replaced by AI? As Shel explained: “There’s actually an AI CEO out there now – their name is Mika. It’s a research project between Hanson Robots and a rum c

We’re hearing a lot about the ‘r’ word: resilience. Within the IC world this relates to an organisation’s desire to find ways to build a kind of mental toughness that prevents colleagues from experiencing burnout and ultimately ensures the workforce provides optimum output with minimal disruption. But it’s clear some are trying to magically instil resilience in colleagues simply be providing a workshop or a webinar, rather than considering it as a complex psychological state

One of the world’s largest consumer goods companies, Unilever employs over 130,000 people worldwide – an IC challenge that’s not for the faint hearted. We recently welcomed Charlotte Carroll, Unilever’s Global Head of People Communications, to the Internal Comms Podcast . Charlotte’s impressive IC career includes time at ASOS, the BBC and Cadbury’s Schweppes, but she knows Unilever best (she’s returned to work there three times). So what does it take to communicate with a wor

In Episode 51 of the Internal Comms Podcast , Katie Macaulay speaks to comms expert Jane Mitchell on a range of topics, from how to create healthy cultures in the workplace, to why it’s the communicator’s job to sometimes say ‘no’. Now an IABC Fellow, Jane began her illustrious career at the BBC, on shows like Blue Peter, Tomorrow’s World and Grange Hill, before moving to producing award-winning films and videos for corporate clients. Jane took lessons learned in television b

When I’m asked to give talks on internal communication, I like to leave the last line to Calvin Coolidge, America’s 30th president: “No one ever listened himself out of a job.” In researching my book, From Cascade to Conversation , I became convinced our ability to listen is one of humankind’s most underrated superpowers. By listening, I do not mean the ability to remain silent while someone else is speaking. That’s just waiting your turn. I mean listening with the expectatio

Royal Mail came to AB late last year and asked us to brand their new integrated employee app and build a campaign to encourage adoption. Oh, we jumped at the chance. After some serious " John Mayer-ouija boarding ", AB's associate creative director Gaby came up with Robin, "a silly thought that grew and grew into something perfectly suited," she says. Like the app, robins are familiar, dependable. And there's a Royal Mail connection, too: Victorian posties were known as 'robi

This free webinar – the third in our Creativity now! series – explored how to build great communication campaigns on everyday IC channels. Learn how a little creative thinking can help you build measurable and achievable campaigns across multiple channels. Equip yourself with the three Ss of top-notch campaign content. And understand how to make the most of Microsoft 365 (other tech platforms are available, of course). Featuring AB’s Account Director Dorrie Linford, Head of C

Duran Duran, Comms and Cocktails and a few IC home truths – the character that is Chuck Gose comes to life during this fascinating conversation with Katie for the launch episode of season 3 of The IC Podcast. Chuck talks about his early inspiration, work and how he’s a bridge between comms and tech. He also shares his hopes for the future of IC and offers some wise words of career advice for internal comms folk. Tune into the full interview for more. #1 – Don’t be overwhelmed

Within just 90 days of joining global manufacturer Spirax Sarco , Colin Archer had set out a bold new vision for internal communication. His strategy became the foundation for one of the most innovative projects AB has ever supported – The Communicating Organisation. At its heart lies a radical idea: communication shouldn’t be centralised – it should be socialised. Instead of messages cascading down a hierarchy, knowledge, insight and ideas flow freely across it. Working alo