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

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

Why less is more: The cost of overcommunication 🗣️

What we cover: Trends in overcommunication and productivity; The hidden cost of overcommunication: a Q&A with Stacy Uma, Senior Internal Communications Strategist at Moody’s; Why attention is a finite resource in the workplace; Dates to put in your diary; And an approach to using measurement to cut through the noise.

Did you know?

Employees are inundated with messages daily – and it’s costing organisations time, focus, and money. According to McKinsey, the average employee spends over 28% of their workweek just reading and answering emails, adding up to more than 11 hours a week.

Research from the American Psychological Association (APA) also found that constant communication and multitasking can lower productivity by up to 40%, as the brain struggles to switch between tasks. This means overcommunicating chips away at employees’ ability to focus on meaningful work.

The bottom line

The cumulative impact of overcommunication leads to slower decision-making, reduced productivity, and ultimately, lost business value. Internal comms teams have a critical role to play in cutting through the noise, but also reducing it – ensuring they add value rather than distraction. By being targeted, intentional, and audience-led, internal comms teams can ensure every message adds value, is mindful of employees’ time, and drives the actions and behaviours that matter most.

Q&A

We interviewed Stacy Uma, Senior Internal Communications Strategist at Moody’s, on the hidden cost of overcommunication. 

How can internal comms teams avoid over-communication while still keeping employees well-informed?

In fast-paced environments, almost everything feels urgent. It helps to pace updates and really think about who genuinely needs each message. Using the right channels for the right audiences and keeping a predictable rhythm gives employees space to absorb information. Some messages will always be urgent or bespoke but being intentional about timing, audience, and delivery helps employees stay informed, act on updates and trust your communications – without feeling buried or overwhelmed.

Is a multi-channel approach to communications always effective, or does it contribute to more overcommunication?

A multi-channel approach can be very effective when it’s purposeful. It allows key messages to reach employees through different channels, helping ensure important information lands. The key is to adapt your messages to each channel and audience rather than copy-pasting the same content everywhere. Thoughtful use reinforces your messages, increases reach and reduces unnecessary noise. Using each channel as intended ensures your communications land in the right place, at the right time and ultimately support the outcomes you’re aiming for.

What advice would you give to teams struggling to cut through the noise and ensure their messaging lands?

It’s crucial to start with the outcomes: what do you want people to know, feel and do? Once that’s clear, it guides your approach, choice of channels and creative decisions. Don’t be afraid to experiment, test different formats or be bold and try something fun! Measure what works and refine your approach – continuous improvement is key. And remember – smart brevity is your friend: concise, focused messages cut through the noise and ensure your content truly lands. In a nutshell, thoughtful outcomes, a willingness to get creative, and clear messaging are the secrets to communications that really stick.

Trending

Why attention is a finite resource in the workplace

Behavioural science shows that frequent task switching and constant interruptions come at a steep cognitive cost. Research finds that even short switches between tasks reduce efficiency, degrade comprehension, and fatigue working memory. For example, one study found that multitasking behaviour in the workplace significantly worsens performance, especially on complex or precision tasks.

When employees are bombarded with messages across multiple channels, they don’t just lose time – they lose the ability to concentrate on meaningful work. Over time, this overload undermines both productivity and wellbeing.

What internal communications can do to be part of the solution, rather than the problem

• Audit channels and content: map where communications overlap or interrupt, and identify where communication can be streamlined or consolidated.
• Prioritise clarity over frequency: craft messages with fewer, stronger points; lead with what matters most.
• Use personas for targeting: tailor communications so employees only see what is relevant to their role, avoiding unnecessary distractions.
• Use measurement to monitor overload: review pulse surveys or feedback to assess whether employees feel “communication fatigue” and correlate that with performance or engagement metrics.

Key dates for the diary 📅

8th Brussels Digital Workplace Conference

30 September 2025, Brussels, Belgium

This event brings together internal communications, IT and HR professionals to explore digital and hybrid workplaces, employee experience and the future of work. It covers topics such as the challenges when managing the digital workplace and how to overcome these, the tools used, and generative AI at work. Link to website

Internal Communications Conference

19-21 November 2025, London, United Kingdom

This 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. 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

Using measurement to cut through the noise

In an age of information overload, measurement is key to understanding how employees engage with communications. It helps communicators see what cuts through, where attention drops, and how messages land across different audiences.

A robust measurement strategy not only tracks clicks and opens but also links communication activity back to business objectives, and provides the insight needed to refine approaches going forward.

Our approach

1. Set a clear measurement strategy: Define what success looks like across channels and metrics, ensuring alignment with organisational priorities.
2. Don’t fall into the ‘performance trap’: Only focusing on metrics like reach and engagement can tempt teams to push out more content simply because it performs well, adding to the noise. Instead, focus measurement beyond performance metrics to ensure communications remain business-critical.
3. Track beyond the numbers: Pair quantitative data (opens, clicks, engagement rates) with qualitative feedback (pulse surveys, focus groups) to get the full picture.
4. Connect comms to business impact: Analyse how communications influence business priorities, such as employee engagement scores, retention, or productivity.
5. Refine and optimise: Use insights to adapt channel mix, content style, and frequency so communications are more targeted, relevant, and effective.

Get in touch

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

+44 7833 200401

[email protected]