In this episode of the Building Better Cultures Podcast, host Scott McInnes speaks with Glenda Kirby, Chief Customer Officer at Poppulo, about the evolving role of leadership communication in a fast-changing workplace.

They explore how trust, transparency, and empathy form the foundation of strong organizational cultures, particularly in a world shaped by hybrid work, constant change, and emerging technologies like AI. Glenda shares practical insights from her experience helping global organizations communicate with millions of employees, as well as lessons from her leadership roles at LinkedIn and Indeed.

You will walk away with actionable ideas on communicating through change, building trust within teams, and developing leadership skills such as clarity under pressure, empathy, and authenticity.

Keywords:

Leadership communication, internal communications, organisational culture, trust in leadership, empathy in leadership, clarity under pressure, employee engagement, hybrid work, change management, communication strategy, workplace culture, leadership development, Poppulo, employee experience.

Key Takeaways:

Trust is built through consistent and transparent communication.

Communication is no longer occasional - it's continuous.

Middle managers are a critical communication channel.

Clarity matters more than ever.

Empathy is a leadership skill that must be developed.

Act on feedback.

Timing and accuracy are essential during change.

Authenticity strengthens culture.

Belonging is becoming increasingly important.

Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction to the episode and guest 01:00 – Glenda Kirby's background and Poppulo's global reach 03:00 – Why trust is central to strong workplace cultures 05:20 – Communication overload and cutting through the noise 08:50 – The growing complexity of leadership roles 12:20 – Why organizations still underinvest in communication skills 15:00 – Simple communication techniques leaders can use immediately 18:50 – The importance of empathy and authenticity in leadership 21:00 – Acting on employee feedback and building trust 24:40 – Understanding how different people receive communication 29:00 – Leading teams through constant organizational change 33:00 – The risk of over-communication during uncertain times 35:40 – Final reflections and leadership quick-fire questions 37:30 – The leadership skills that matter most today

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149 | Leading Teams in the Age of Constant Change | Scott McInnes & Glenda Kirby