
Great communicators don't necessarily make great leaders, but brilliant leaders are always superb communicators. However, that doesn't mean they have to be the best orators in the world. They don't have to be. Because great communication isn't all about imparting information – it's about connecting and inspiring. That's the most important bit, and it's something that's too often forgotten.
Of course, all leadership teams have varying degrees of communication skills, and even the best can benefit from coaching. And those best placed to give this advice are the people who know their leaders communication strengths and weaknesses better than most, and who also happen to be the same people who know the target audience best - people like YOU, the internal communication professional.
This guide, compiled from questions to executive coach Rob Shimmin during his Poppulo webinar, How to be a better communication coach to your leadership team, addresses issues such as:

Internal communication is under real pressure. IC teams are expected to support leaders, shape culture, and deliver relevant, personalized communication to an increasingly diverse audience—all while operating at greater speed and scale than ever before. AI arrives at the right moment. It doesn’t replace communicators; it elevates them. Applied well, AI sharpens the fundamentals of effective communication: diagnosing issues, shaping the narrative, guiding leaders, and delivering messages that connect people to purpose and progress. At its best, AI accelerates drafting, adapts content for different formats, improves accessibility, and surfaces insights about what’s landing. Without governance, though, it can create noise or risk. The opportunity for IC teams is to bring AI in thoughtfully, with governance and human judgment at the center. This guide shows how to do exactly that. Inside, you’ll find practical guidance on when to use AI, where humans remain essential, how to establish guardrails, how to prompt effectively, and how to scale AI responsibly across channels and teams.

Clear answers on security, data protection, integrations, deployment, AI governance, and enterprise scalability.

When communication is clear, consistent, and grounded in purpose, HR becomes one of the most powerful drivers of culture and performance. But that only happens when people understand what’s being asked of them—and feel connected to why it matters. This guide is for HR professionals who want to align their communication strategy with the things that matter most: engagement, retention, wellbeing, and trust. It brings together practical thinking, real-world insight, and clear guidance on how to measure what’s working—and where to adjust. From AI and analytics to channel strategy and message design, we explore how to build a communication approach that supports your people and delivers real impact. Inside the Guide How leadership, HR, and internal comms can align to shape culture The impact of AI on HR communication and KPI strategy Why multichannel messaging matters—and how to do it well The KPIs that help HR teams track progress, improve clarity, and build trust A practical framework for building a people-first comms strategy How analytics can help you learn what’s landing and where to improve Smart communication means making every message count. This guide shows you how to do it.