CEOs are talking more — but mostly to their employees
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CEOs are communicating more with employees and internal audiences than they were in 2020, according to a new report by Shallot Communications and Censuswide.
Why it matters: If business leaders must address hot-button issues, they are going to do it internally.
By the numbers: Shallot surveyed 508 internal communications leaders and found that almost all of them have seen fundamental changes to communication strategies since the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Roughly 5 in 10 say their companies are using more channels like intranets, email and messaging apps to reach employees. Also, 46% say their internal communications teams are better funded than before the pandemic.
- 47% say CEOs are more interested in communicating with employees, and roughly 4 in 10 say they are communicating more proactively compared with during the first Trump administration.
Yes, but: Employee notes or internal statements are often leaked or intentionally repurposed for external consumption.
- For example, Boeing treated its internal communications as external statements amid last year's manufacturing and safety concerns.
- After President Trump called for Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan's resignation this month, the company posted its employee note on its website.
- Shopify CEO Tobi Lutke recently posted an employee note about AI workplace expectations on X.
What they're saying: Most leaders don't have the luxury of dodging political or social issues in their internal communications, Shallot co-founder Tim Granholm says. However, they are becoming more clinical in how they communicate with these audiences.
- "Some companies have taken very public stances, but a majority took a more low-key approach if there were changes to business policies during Trump's second term," he said. "Internally, particular employee bases might need more explanation or context, and comms teams are approaching this in a more targeted way to avoid confusion or leaks."
- "As opposed to all-company emails, they are spending more time going directly to the people, departments or employee resource groups that need to know."
Zoom in: 90% of internal communication leaders say their companies are regularly weighing in on external issues that affect the business.
- An example of this might be tariff policies or changes to DEI programs, says Granholm.
What to watch: Americans across demographics and political affiliations have an increased appetite for businesses to take a public stance on issues like free speech, immigration policy, diversity, climate change and health care issues, per a recent Bentley University-Gallup report.
- 51% said they believe companies should take public stances on current issues — a 13-percentage-point increase from last year and a reversal of a downward trend that began after 2022.
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