It’s time for the next issue of our Transformation & Change newsletter!

We are focusing this month’s newsletter on the topic of:

💬 Making leadership visible – how leaders build trust from the top 💬

What we cover: Trends in leadership and employee engagement; Effective leadership communication: a Q&A with Clara Tobler, Global Lead Leadership Development at Boehringer Ingelheim; Leading with empathy builds trust – and trust drives performance; Dates to put in your diary; And an approach to leadership communication.

Did you know?

Research shows that confidence in leadership emerges as the top driver of employee engagement. However, according to Gallup, only 21% of employees strongly agree that they trust their organisation’s leadership, and just 19% strongly agree that their leaders inspire enthusiasm for the future.

The bottom line

Effective leadership communication is crucial for employee engagement and buy-in. When leaders communicate with clarity, authenticity, and empathy, they signal direction and purpose. By making leadership both visible and meaningful, internal comms teams can help boost trust, drive engagement, and foster a culture where people feel seen, valued and motivated to contribute.

Q&A

We interviewed Clara Tobler, Global Lead Leadership Development at Boehringer Ingelheim, on effective leadership communication. 

What does effective leadership communication look like in practice?

Effective leadership communication is intentional, authentic, and adaptive.

It’s not just about delivering messages. It’s about creating a meaningful dialogue based on a shared purpose.

Leaders who communicate well listen actively, tailor their messaging and connect strategic direction to daily work. We encourage leaders to communicate not only as managers, but also as coaches and role models. By embracing those multifaceted roles, staying authentic and contextually relevant is a key success driver.

What common challenges do leaders face with internal visibility, and how can we help overcome them?

A common misconception is that visibility requires constant presence. In reality, it’s about meaningful presence by being available, approachable, and consistent. With growing complexity, time is another challenge and visibility can feel secondary. But it’s not an add-on. It’s a vital part of leading self, others, and the organisation. We can support leaders by integrating visibility into their routines and helping them recognise its impact on engagement and performance.

What advice would you give to internal communication teams looking to strengthen their leadership connection and credibility?

Start by being a strategic partner to your leaders. Understand their goals, challenges, and audiences, then co-create communication that reflects their authentic voice and aligns with the shared purpose. Help leaders communicate not just what’s happening, but why it matters and how it connects to the bigger picture. Use storytelling to humanise messages. And always build in feedback loops: Two-way communication enables leaders to listen, learn, and adapt in ways that truly resonate.

Trending

Leading with empathy builds trust – and trust drives performance

Many leaders still view empathy as a “nice to have” – yet there is growing expectations for leaders to demonstrate empathy as part of their core capabilities. As Forbes reports, research increasingly shows that empathy is essential for building trust. When employees trust their leaders, they’re more likely to share ideas, raise concerns early, and stay engaged.

Empathy isn’t ‘soft’ – it’s strategic. The most effective leaders build cultures where people feel trusted and supported, and in doing so, they drive innovation and strengthen performance.

What does empathy in leadership look like?

Leading with empathy means communicating in a way that makes others feel seen and heard. Empathetic leaders do this by actively listening, acknowledging employee concerns, recognising individual and team contributions, and being open and transparent during periods of uncertainty. These everyday behaviours help build stronger relationships, foster a sense of belonging, and reinforce a culture of trust and support.

Ultimately, when leaders show up consistently, communicate authentically, and demonstrate empathy in how they lead, employees are more likely to feel connected to the organisation’s purpose – and motivated to contribute to its success.

Key dates for the diary 📅

2025 Digital Experience Summit

10-11 November 2025, London, United Kingdom

Hosted by Gallagher, this event focuses on digital and AI transformation. It covers topics such as generative AI advancements and its impact on comms, how internal communications can become a more strategic function, and communicating through change and disruption. Link to website

Internal Communications Conference

19-21 November 2025, London, United Kingdom

This two-day event is designed for senior internal communications professionals to dive deep into internal communications’ unique challenges and opportunities, with topics from amplifying employee voices to building resilience and overcoming setbacks with effective team communication. The conference features a mix of discussions, case studies and practical workshops. Link to website

Future of Work Europe

25-26 November 2025, London, United Kingdom

Over two days, this conference brings together HR, internal communications, people and culture, employee engagement, and digital workplace experts to explore the future of work. The event focuses on the latest trends on workplace, learning and talent. Link to website

Leadership communication: Engaging employees to turn strategy into action

In today’s complex business environment, the ability to translate strategic vision into organisational action has become a defining leadership skill. While executives invest considerable time crafting comprehensive strategies, the true test lies in how effectively leaders can communicate it across their organisation.

The challenge goes far beyond simply announcing a new direction. Leaders must be able to convey why the strategy matters and how every individual contributes to its success. Those who excel at this create alignment, drive engagement, and empower their people to make decisions that advance their company’s goals.

Our approach

1. Don’t just share the strategy, help make it actionable.
2. Mobilise managers and build them into confident communicators.
3. Communicate with clarity and purpose.
4. Use language and channels that are relevant and tailored.
5. It’s about quality, not quantity.

Read more

Get in touch

Please contact Adaora Geiger, Head of Transformation & Change, for more information on our services.

+44 7833 200401

[email protected]