The 2025 Gallagher Report: What You Need to Know

The 2025 State of the Sector Report offers an in-depth analysis of the evolving internal communications (IC) landscape. With insights from over 2,000 global communicators—89% based in North America and Europe—the Gallagher report sheds light on the most pressing challenges and opportunities shaping how organizations engage their employees.

From the strategic shift in IC to AI adoption, overcoming change fatigue, and the growing need for data-driven decision-making, here are the key takeaways—and how Sociabble empowers you to navigate them successfully.

Five Key Takeaways for Employee Communications from the 2025 Gallagher Report

The 2025 State of the Sector Report from Gallagher offers a number of insightful observations, but five prominent trends stand out. Here, we’ll cover the main developments that the report explores, and how they effect employee communications for the year ahead.

1. Internal Communications Is More Strategic Than Ever

Internal communications is no longer just about broadcasting information. It has evolved into a strategic function that plays a critical role in business alignment, change management, and leadership coaching. Communicators must collaborate closely with HR and the C-suite to ensure messaging aligns with business priorities. The most effective IC teams act as business advisors, influencing leadership decisions rather than merely relaying messages.

To meet these demands, organizations must invest in continuous training and upskilling for their IC teams. According to the report, “2 in 3 respondents were satisfied with the progress they were making towards strategic alignment and culture and belonging as their purpose(s),” indicating that companies are rising to meet the challenge.

2. AI Is a Game-Changer, But Governance Is Lagging

Artificial intelligence is transforming industries, and it is widely appreciated: according to the report, 8 in 10 communicators were happy for AI to assist with content creation and copywriting, and 1 in 10 were happy for AI to take it over entirely. Yet its implementation in internal communications remains inconsistent.

While AI can significantly enhance personalization, automation, and efficiency, many organizations lack clear governance policies. Only 41% of companies have formal AI guidelines, while 38% have no governance at all. Communicators must take the lead in developing and enforcing AI policies, ensuring ethical and transparent usage while helping employees understand how to leverage AI tools effectively.

3. Change Fatigue Is Real—And It’s Hurting Engagement

With frequent restructuring, digital transformations, and corporate mergers, employees are experiencing significant change fatigue. Nearly half of communicators cite change fatigue as a major barrier to engagement.

To mitigate this, organizations need structured, transparent, and empathetic communication strategies. Leadership visibility and involvement are crucial in fostering trust and guiding employees through change with clear, consistent messaging.

4. Data-Driven Internal Communications Wins—But Measurement Still Needs Work

The most successful IC teams rely on data to measure impact and prove business value. According to the report, 38% of respondents said data literacy was a highly important skill for 2025, while 58% planned to train their team in data literacy.

Employee engagement remains the top metric for most organizations, yet many still lack the tools to analyze its effectiveness.

High-performing IC teams leverage behavioral analytics and sentiment tracking to influence leadership decisions and secure necessary resources. Moving forward, data literacy will be a critical skill for IC professionals who need to demonstrate ROI and secure continued investment in internal communications initiatives.

5. Leadership Communication Needs a Major Upgrade

Effective leadership communication remains a challenge for many organizations. Poor managerial communication is one of the biggest barriers to success in internal communications. According to the report:

“Poor communication from both managers and leaders appeared in the top five barriers list for 2025. So it’s no surprise that 1 in 3 respondents said that leadership comms coaching was a top priority for 2025 with 45% saying leadership comms coaching was a highly important skill for communicators to have in 2025.”

Leadership coaching is now a top priority, with IC teams playing an increasingly important role in equipping executives with the right messaging tools. Organizations must implement stronger training programs to help leaders develop their communication skills and engage with employees more effectively.

How Sociabble Helps You Master Employee Communications in 2025

These are the trends and challenges that lie ahead, but fortunately, there are solutions to help companies address them and rise to the occasion. Sociabble provides a comprehensive platform designed to do just that, while optimizing internal communications for modern organizations.

A Structured Employee Engagement Framework

Sociabble’s engagement features help organizations develop and implement a structured engagement strategy, ensuring employees feel informed, valued, and connected.

The platform provides real-time analytics that offer clear insights into engagement levels, allowing IC teams to measure effectiveness and align communication efforts with business objectives.

AI-Powered Content Personalization and Automation

With Sociabble, organizations can deliver targeted content to employees based on their roles, locations, and interests, generated by its unique AI capabilities.

The platform’s AI-driven analytics optimize communication strategies and ensure messaging is relevant and impactful. Additionally, Sociabble automates compliance checks, helping organizations enforce governance policies effortlessly.

A Unified, Multi-Channel Platform for Change Communication

Sociabble ensures employees stay engaged and informed through a seamless multi-channel experience. Whether through web, mobile, Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, or digital signage, Sociabble facilitates real-time conversations and feedback loops across departments, fostering a more cohesive and responsive communication ecosystem.

Better Measurement and Data-Driven Insights

Measuring the impact of internal communications is essential for demonstrating its value. Sociabble tracks key performance indicators such as engagement, sentiment, and content reach. Customizable reports help IC teams present data-driven insights to leadership, securing greater investment in communication initiatives.

Empowering Leaders and Managers with the Right Tools

Sociabble provides leaders with ready-to-use communication templates, talking points, and best practices. The platform also offers manager-specific training and resources, equipping executives with the tools they need to communicate effectively with their teams. By bridging the gap between frontline workers and executives, Sociabble ensures that important messages are seen and acknowledged by all employees.

Final Thoughts: The Future of Internal Communications Is Strategic, Data-Driven, and People-Centric

As organizations continue to navigate change, embrace AI, and prioritize employee engagement, internal communications will play a critical role in shaping company culture, enhancing performance, and ensuring long-term success.

With Sociabble, businesses can build a connected, informed, and engaged workforce, staying ahead in an evolving corporate landscape. By integrating strategic IC practices with advanced technology, Sociabble helps organizations transform communication challenges into opportunities for growth.

Are you ready to elevate your internal communications strategy? We’ve already partnered with global leaders like Coca-Cola CCEP, Primark, AXA and L’Occitane en Provence, and we’re eager to discuss our ideas with you.

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