We live in a time where work takes on multiple formats and is distributed across different territories. The classic image of offices crowded with people and computers no longer accurately portrays current reality. Today, it is much more common to see shared workspaces or even different activities collaborating in the same space, with large offices containing factories, points of sale, and distribution centers, for example. In this new mosaic of realities, corporate communication needs to overcome physical and digital barriers to fulfill its most essential role: that of inclusion.
The decentralization of teams, driven by hybrid and remote models, has brought flexibility gains. However, this transformation in work formats has also exposed an urgent challenge: how to ensure that all employees, regardless of the area they work in or the region of the globe where they live, feel part of the same organizational culture?
The answer lies in internal communication that is truly accessible and understandable to all. By restricting communication to channels such as emails or intranets only accessible via computer, we overlook a crucial fact: 80% of the global workforce is not behind a screen, according to The Rise of the Deskless Workforce study. These are professionals who, even in essential roles, often end up on the sidelines of company’s strategic conversations.
And the impact of this exclusion goes beyond discomfort. The absence of inclusive communication compromises engagement, productivity, and a sense of belonging. Not in vain, Gallup data shows that organizations with effective internal communication experience 47% less turnover. In parallel, a Harvard Business Review study indicates that engaged employees can be up to 21% more productive. In other words, strengthening corporate culture represents an excellent business.
It is important to emphasize a basic principle: communication needs to be as diverse as the audiences it aims to reach. By democratizing access to information, companies allow the frontline employee to receive the same message as the headquarters executive. This alignment creates connection and empathy.
However, more than aligned speeches, inclusion needs to be a daily practice. It means listening to all voices, adapting formats, translating languages, and adopting technologies that respect the realities of each group. An inclusive company is not only one that values diversity but also one that integrates its talents daily, in every message, in every gesture, in every action, making everyone feel included.
Using data again as evidence of this importance, McKinsey reveals that inclusive companies are 35% more likely to outperform their competitors in financial performance. However, the true competitive advantage often goes beyond numbers: it lies in building a culture where everyone matters, everyone is heard, and everyone has access to the necessary information to do their best.
Communication is culture in motion. When it includes, it also unites. And when it unites, it strengthens. Companies that understand this evolve and become more human, resilient, and prepared. It is through communication that trust is built, fragmentation between areas is reduced, and an environment is promoted where each employee recognizes themselves as an essential part of the whole. In a context of accelerated transformations, where the boundaries between physical and digital blur, companies that can communicate clearly are one step ahead. Inclusion, after all, begins with listening and is consolidated with dialogue.
Leandro Oliveira is the EMEA head and market leader in Brazil. The executive brings with him over 20 years of experience in the technology sector and project development, with about 12 of those in leadership positions. With a postgraduate degree from Heriot-Watt University and an International MBA in Administration and Management from the IE Business School, Oliveira also has a proven track record of success in implementing strategic IT projects aligned with business objectives, focusing on innovation and growth within the financial market, as well as solid expertise in systems architecture, cyber security, and democratization of access to technology.
