The neuroscience of effective internal communication: how to make messages stick – part two
Using brain science to deepen relationships, support leaders, and overcome digital fatigue in the modern workplace.
In the first part of this two-part blog series, we looked at attention, emotion, and repetition, three brain-backed techniques for helping messages land and stick.
But what happens when messages do get through... and people still don’t trust them? Or when information overload leaves teams too overwhelmed to engage?
That’s where neuroscience gives us even more to work with. It turns out, trust and human connection aren’t just cultural buzzwords, they’re brain science.
Trust and connection in internal comms
When people feel psychologically safe, the brain produces oxytocin, the hormone linked to trust and empathy. According to Google’s Project Aristotle, psychological safety is the most critical factor behind high-performing teams.
Trust and connection are emotional states, yes, but they’re also neurological conditions that support learning, collaboration and innovation.
The IoIC’s 2025 report, Strengthening Human Connectivity Through Internal Communication, emphasises that internal communicators play a vital role in shaping trust. It highlights that organisations with a clear IC purpose and active, intentional connection-building are more likely to foster psychological safety and boost collaboration. Internal comms teams help create a sense of belonging by acting as 'connectors' between leaders, employees and purpose, particularly in hybrid and fragmented workplaces.
At the same time, in Gallagher’s 2024/25 State of the Sector report, nearly 40% of respondents said that 'employee trust in leadership communication' was a core area of focus. These findings are two sides of the same coin.
When leaders communicate with warmth and authenticity, and IC teams embed connection into the rhythm of work - trust grows.
What can we take away from this?:
Use comms to help people feel seen, heard, and safe.
Relationships matter inside a business - build them and look after them with care and consistency.
What can we do right now?: Support leaders with storytelling techniques and message coaching. Encourage two-way dialogue and feedback loops that show listening is more than a checkbox. Coach your leaders. Help them use their own voice, show vulnerability, and move away from over-formal comms.
Digital fatigue and the brain
Why employees ignore emails (despite them being the most widely used form of communication)
We’re constantly connected, and it’s exhausting. Digital overload activates the brain’s stress response system, increasing cortisol levels and making it harder to focus or retain information. I didn’t even realise that until I started researching this blog.
No surprise then, that 62% of employees say they miss important internal messages due to overload (A report from PoliteMail, 2023). And while Grammarly’s 2024 report focuses on business communication more broadly, it found that ineffective communication costs companies up to $12,506 per employee, per year in lost productivity, highlighting just how high the stakes can be for getting comms right, inside and out.
As internal communicators, we’re both competing for attention and trying to create balance and avoid burnout.
If we don’t adapt to digital fatigue, our messages become background noise. That means more effort for less impact. We have a good opportunity here to rethink what, when and how we communicate. Be brave enough to hit pause on unnecessary messages and champion quality over volume.
What can we take away from this?: Reduce noise. Prioritise what matters. Deliver fewer, higher-impact messages.
What can we do right now?: Use clear headings, white space, and visual tools like infographics or short-form video. Don’t bury key points in long paragraphs.
Neuroscience gives us the tools, but it’s internal communicators who apply them. Our job is to help people cut through the noise, feel connected to something bigger, and take action. Not always the easiest task, is it?
So ask yourself before pushing out any comms:
Is this message designed for a human brain, or just an inbox?
Does it speak to the head and the heart?
Will it be remembered, or ignored?
In a world of too much information, the real challenge isn’t sending messages. It’s making them matter.
Need help making your internal comms more brain-friendly?
We work with teams to craft communication that both connects people and cuts through the noise. Get in touch if you’d like to chat!
