In the dynamic world of team management, cohesion is not just beneficial; it’s essential. Cohesive teams are the engine of high performance and innovation. But what binds these teams together? The answer lies in effective communication practices. This blog post explores how fostering open, honest, and continuous team dialogue can enhance cohesion and success.

Professional communication can be tricky at times. When you send an email or a message, the person on the other end might not understand what you mean. Even if you spend time crafting your message, it can still be misinterpreted. This is important, whether you’re working remotely or in person. In emails or chats, you have to be extra careful with your words and punctuation to avoid confusion. As we continue to work remotely, dealing with difficult team members might become a challenge again.

Technology is rapidly evolving — and so are many Internal Communication teams, which are leveraging innovations from generative AI to virtual assistance to increase productivity and magnify the impact of their work.

Effective group communication allows team members to seamlessly collaborate on complex projects with clarity and purpose. But with so many options on the market, choosing the right communication tools can be an overwhelming task. There are several factors to consider before making a decision, such as the size and location of the team, the nature of the project, and the communication needs of the team members.

Buffer’s recent survey revealed that the majority (97%) of people said they’d love to keep working from home--at least part-time--for the rest of their careers. With the way things are always on fast-forward nowadays, setting up the perfect spot to work from home has become super important. A bunch of us are swapping the typical office for our living rooms or maybe even a cozy corner in a coffee shop.

Information overload is real. Employees are bombarded with emails, texts, instant messages, notifications and more — causing stress, hindering productivity, and increasing the likelihood of important messages getting lost in the clutter. So, how do you cut through the noise as an internal communicator? Personalization and targeting.

In the high-stakes defense sector, where the margin for error is razor-thin, communication is everything. Imagine coordinating over 1.3 million active-duty personnel across the globe. That's the reality for the United States, home to one of the world's largest military forces. This sheer size underscores the need for seamless communication. It's about ensuring messages are sent, clear, received, and correctly understood, no matter the circumstances.

Effective communication transcends simple information exchanges. Understanding the emotions and motives behind the given information is essential. In addition to successfully conveying messages, it's important to actively listen and fully understand the conversation, making the speaker feel heard and understood. Today, we’re in almost constant contact with our coworkers.

Technology and the evolving needs of companies have changed workplace roles across generations. Similarly, the ways we communicate with colleagues have also undergone shifts. Decades ago, people mostly relied on handwritten messages. Then, they began creating documents on typewriters, and the computers. More recently, many employees are resorting to just texting things to each other at work, or at least using email.

We asked hundreds of Internal Communication (IC) leaders and practitioners to share their perspectives, experiences and insights into creating highly effective and impactful communication strategies. Their input, colored with the perspectives of industry experts, reveals a vivid picture of the current state of internal comms.