The neuroscience of effective internal communications: how to make messages stick - part one

How science-backed insights can help internal communicators cut through the noise, boost engagement, and build stronger human connections at work.

By now, most of us understand that internal communication is about far more than keeping people informed (and for those who don’t - it's time to wise up!).

It’s about helping people feel connected, motivated, and heard. But that’s getting harder.

According to Gallagher’s 2024/25 State of the Sector report, organisations are facing a growing crisis of communication overload, with 44% of professionals citing 'change fatigue' as a key barrier to effective internal comms.

So how can we help messages land in a world full of noise, pressure, and digital distraction?

Enter: neuroscience.

I think that by understanding a little about how the brain processes information, we can make our comms more engaging, more memorable, and most importantly, more human, in an age dominated by tech and transformation.

The science of attention: get noticed or get lost

The brain filters out the majority of information it encounters, especially when it feels irrelevant or overwhelming. Although, a note on the former: I seem to be able to remember all the lyrics to B*Witched’s 1998 hit C'est La Vie but can’t recall what I did yesterday, so the jury’s still out on that one.

Still, internal messages are often competing with hundreds of emails, chats, and pings.

One study found the average employee receives over 120 emails a day (Radicati Group). Add to that our 8-second average attention span reported by Microsoft, and you’ve got a real challenge.

Apparently, the brain goes into something called 'cognitive triage', prioritising only what feels urgent, emotional, or crystal clear. I’m no neuroscientist, but it makes sense: when we’re overloaded, we instinctively filter out anything that doesn’t grab us fast. If your comms feel vague, irrelevant, or too long? They’ll be the first thing to go.

What can we take away from this? Be ruthlessly relevant. Strip away the filler. Deliver messages in formats that work with attention spans, not against them.

What can we do right now?: Use relatable stories and real-life examples to make abstract ideas land. The brain is wired to respond to narratives, not notifications.

The role of emotion in communications

Why do we remember feelings over facts?

Emotion helps information stick. When the amygdala (the brain’s emotional centre) is activated, it tells the brain: this matters, remember it.

Harvard Health explains that the amygdala flags certain emotionally charged memories as important, which enhances their retention. This supports the growing body of neuroscience showing that emotionally resonant messages are not only better remembered, but more likely to influence behaviour.

We as IC professionals can be both strategic and sentimental about this. Emotionally resonant messaging increases attention, comprehension, and recall. In internal comms, this means people are more likely to not only read your message, but act on it.

This becomes especially powerful during times of change, challenge, or uncertainty, when employees are looking for reassurance, connection, and clarity.

Emotion-led communication encourages empathy, trust, and a sense of shared purpose.

What can we take away from this? Tap into real emotions. Pride. Curiosity. Purpose. Recognition. Really think about those emotions. That’s how we create connection over compliance.

What can we do right now? Feature employee stories, celebrate small wins, and use human language, always - ditch the robotic corporate script.

The power of repetition: how to make messages really stick

We forget things fast. Neuroscience shows that repetition is one of the key ways the brain retains information, especially when it’s spaced out and delivered in varied formats. This is known as the Spacing Effect, and it’s especially important in environments where messages compete for attention.

Remember the way you used to revise? Or learn lines? I do! Rhythm and reinforcement matter.

Messages that are repeated across team discussions, leader updates, visuals, and digital tools are more likely to break through the noise, especially when they feel consistent, purposeful, and well-timed within existing communication routines.

What can we take away from this? Don’t just send it once. Be consistent, be creative, and use multiple formats to reinforce your message over time.

What can we do right now?:  Apply the "Rule of Three": deliver key messages in at least three different ways over a defined period (e.g. video, email, and team meeting). Bonus points if it’s delivered by different voices or includes visual cues. Because what’s obvious to us isn’t always obvious to everyone else.

Repetition builds memory, clarity, and trust. But there’s more to getting internal comms right than just saying things more than once. In fact, what we say, and how connected people feel to the message, matters just as much.

That’s where trust, human connection, and brain chemistry come in...

(Stay tuned for part two: how neuroscience can help us build trust, reduce digital fatigue, and craft communication that feels more human.)