Inspired Gear
Cracking the Code: Harnessing Effective Communication Through Human Behavior Insights

EXECUTIVE BRIEF

Cracking the Code: Harnessing Effective Communication Through Human Behavior Insights

About this Executive Brief

Employee communications teams face several barriers that hold them back from making decisions on how to effectively reach their employees. Many of these barriers can be tied back to human behavior, the expectations of employees today, uncertainty in business, limited resources, and the fear of messing up. And often, these barriers prevent communicators from making the right decisions about communications strategy—or even making any decision at all.

But a greater understanding of the barriers blocking comms strategy and the impact that human behavior can have on communications effectiveness can help communicators shape their comms strategy accordingly and add value to the business.

We explored the strategies to overcome these key barriers and behaviors in a webinar with Lindsay Kohler, Lead Behavioral Scientist at scarlettabbott, Sarah Meurer, VP Global Internal Communications at Elsevier, and Joss Mathieson, Chief Encouragement Officer at Change Oasis.

During the webinar, the panelists shared the top challenges and barriers that they’ve faced in their experience as internal communicators, the strategies they’ve used to overcome these barriers and drive communications forward, real-world success stories and best practices for transforming your approach to communication, and insights gleaned from the Poppulo Communications Maturity Model. Check out the webinar on-demand here.

This guide delves into the key insights and takeaways from the panel discussion, plus shares some resources and approaches to help inform your communications strategy.

Authors

Joss Mathieson

Joss Mathieson

Founder and Chief Encouragement Officer, Change Oasis

Lindsay Kohler

Lindsay Kohler

Lead Behavioral Scientist at scarlettabbott, scarlettabbott

Contributor

 Christine Kendall

Christine Kendall

Content Marketing Manager

Related content

Expanding Digital Signage Flexibility with the Amazon Signage Stick at the Hollywood Casino at Greektown

When Hollywood Casino Greektown—part of PENN Entertainment—set out to modernize its digital signage network, the goal wasn’t simply to add new screens. The team wanted flexibility and scalability without added cost or IT complexity. With more than 800 screens operating across properties in Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois, AV/IT lead Jason Oziem needed a way to grow the network quickly and affordably. The Amazon Signage Stick, paired with Poppulo, proved to be exactly that solution. Read our latest case study to learn how these casinos expanded their digital signage networks faster and more affordably by pairing Poppulo with the Amazon Signage Stick—without adding IT complexity.

WHITEPAPERSDIGITAL SIGNAGE
How to Plan a Digital Signage Rollout in Higher Education

In an environment where timely communication can make or break the student experience, traditional methods like bulletin boards and email often fall short. Digital signage fills this gap by delivering messages instantly and visually, ensuring critical information reaches the right audience at the right time. It’s not just about convenience—it’s about creating a connected, informed campus community. The benefits speak for themselves. Digital signage enhances safety with rapid emergency notifications, boosts engagement through interactive and eye-catching content, and strengthens university culture by showcasing achievements and campus events. To help you plan and execute a successful digital signage rollout, we’ve created a comprehensive guide, complete with practical templates. You’ll find resources for defining objectives, assessing campus needs, selecting the right technology, building a content strategy, managing launch and training, and measuring success. Use this framework to ensure your digital signage implementation is organized, strategic, and impactful.

PLANNING TEMPLATESDIGITAL SIGNAGE
Top Employee Communication Trends & Strategies for 2026

Internal comms is heading into 2026 with more uncertainty about its role than at any point in recent memory. AI is changing the work at speed. Trust is slipping. Managers are stretched thin. Employees are tuning out. And the expectations placed on IC keep widening into work that falls well beyond its traditional scope—often without the structure or support to match. The familiar models aren’t holding, and the function is being pulled into a new order that still isn’t fully defined. 2026 will ask big questions of IC: what it stands for, where it fits, and how it leads through a year marked by uncertainty and shifting expectations. To understand what this means in practice, we’re bringing together four leaders who are working at the sharp end of these changes: Stephanie Cornell, Head of People Communications & Marketing, WPP Annabelle Gordon, Director of Employee Communications, Super Regine Nelson, Director of Internal Communications, Couchbase Stacie Barrett, Former Director of Internal Communications, Domino’s Moderated by Joss Mathieson of Change Oasis, this 60-minute session, including time for your questions, will get into the real pressures facing IC in 2026 and how teams can work through them. Expect to Explore: The shifting identity of internal comms and what it means to play a deeper role in shaping the employee experience Where AI is genuinely changing the work of internal comms, and the risks that emerge when speed increases but understanding doesn’t How IC can work alongside leaders and other functions when old command-and-control habits no longer hold up How IC can rebuild trust and strengthen resilience by creating communication that feels human, transparent, and genuinely meaningful in a year defined by ambiguity The emotional and practical load on IC practitioners, and how to stay steady when you’re communicating through the same uncertainty as everyone else

WEBINAREMPLOYEE COMMS