Hey there, I'm Devin!
Most of the time you can catch me deep in the world of internal comms at Workshop (yes, the Happy Mondays folks!), and while I love AI, there are just some comms questions that need a human who really gets it… that’s me!
Hi Devin, I’ve just started a brand new Internal Comms role at my company and struggling to work out where to start… I’ve worked in IC for over 13 years but this is the first role I’m starting completely fresh / from the very beginning. Any tips? Particularly around setting those boundaries of what is and isn’t IC from the very beginning!
Yay! Congratulations on the new role! (There must be something in the air because I’ve been doing lots of congratulations here lately!)
Honestly, I will forever and always suggest listening first. I realize you may have already been in the role for a few months and this might have already happened, but if not, I’d definitely prioritize some sort of listening tour. That could be with other departments, managers, or even members of the leadership team — just to get a pulse on what’s working, what’s not, and most importantly, what the goal for internal comms is (beyond the job description, of course!).
If you have access to it, I’d also pay attention to what meetings you can sit in on early. I joined our company’s Weekly Ops Meeting, and it was such a helpful opportunity to learn what other departments were doing without creating a whole separate meeting that bogs down your calendar.
After listening, I’d start diving into strategy — aligning your comms KPIs and OKRs with the overall business goals, and thinking about how comms can support those priorities versus working in isolation or acting solely as a microphone for the company. One thing I’ve learned is that internal comms isn’t about being the catch-all for every announcement; it’s about prioritizing what truly needs shared narrative, context, and employee clarity.
I’d also really recommend getting in front of the company early on (whether that’s at an all-hands, town hall, or team meeting) to share your strategy, recent wins, or even what you’re learning as you go. It’s such a powerful way to keep internal comms front and center, build trust, and help people understand how (and when!) to partner with you.
And don’t forget to sprinkle some fun in there, too. I launched an internal podcast within my first 30-ish days, and it was just a fun bet that helped build momentum and signal what was possible.
As far as boundaries go, one of the best things you can do early is implement some sort of request or intake form (I use Asana) so people have a structured way to make asks. Content calendars are also really, really helpful here — giving people visibility into what’s going out and when. You can even set editorial deadlines that require teams to submit content a set amount of time in advance, which helps protect your time and keeps things from becoming last-minute chaos.
