18 communications challenges growing organizations face (and how to solve them)
Imagine you’ve recently gone from two co-founders with an idea to a team of 10 employees.
Or maybe you’re getting ready to acquire a business to expand your market presence.
Perhaps you’re a global organization growing quickly and need to restructure your teams and leadership for maximum impact.
Or you’re the leader of a nonprofit or public entity navigating change management within your organization.
If any of these challenges sound familiar, then you’re in the right place.
Why Communication Matters for Startups and Growing Organizations
Communication is the foundation of how we work and do business. Without a clear and intentional strategy, you risk confusion, inefficiency, and missed opportunities to build trust with your internal and external audiences.
Having spent over a decade working with small- to medium-sized organizations—ranging from 10 to 200 employees — I’ve partnered with CEOs, executive directors, and marketing leaders to navigate these challenges with strategic communications.
Whether you’re going through these challenges now or want to be prepared for the future, a documented communications strategy will ensure you’re ready while also building trust and strong relationships with employees, customers, and other external audiences.
So before we dive into common communication challenges you may face, let’s take a look at the difference between internal and external communications.
Internal vs. External Communications: What’s the Difference?
Internal communications is how you communicate within your organization.
External communications is how you engage with stakeholders outside of your organization, including customers, investors, media, and the community.
A comprehensive communications strategy ensures alignment between internal and external messaging, creating a seamless experience for employees, customers, and other external audiences.
Now that we’ve laid the groundwork, let’s explore common challenges you may face without a communications strategy in place. Remember — it’s risky not to invest in your communications. If you are experiencing any of these challenges, let’s connect. I’m here to help you build a strong foundation while also solving these challenges in real time.
Internal Communication Challenges
Misunderstandings and unclear messaging – Without a structured approach to communication, employees may receive inconsistent messages, leading to confusion and frustration.
Lack of transparency and trust – When leadership fails to communicate openly, it can create uncertainty and lower employee morale.
Challenging team dynamics – Differing communication styles and interpersonal challenges can lead to misalignment, confusion, and inefficiencies.
Information overload – Rapid growth often leads to an overwhelming amount of information, making it hard for employees to find what they need and keep up with the latest changes.
Poor onboarding experiences – A lack of structured onboarding can leave new hires feeling lost, reducing their ability to contribute effectively.
Lack of feedback mechanisms – Without a clear process for feedback, employees may feel disengaged and unmotivated.
Disconnected remote or hybrid teams – Maintaining engagement and a sense of community across distributed teams can be a significant hurdle.
Information silos – When departments operate in isolation, knowledge gaps can cause delays and frustration.
Common External Communication Challenges
Many times, if internal communications isn’t handled with care and intention, it can manifest into these external challenges.
Announcements being shared externally before they are shared internally – Employees and key stakeholders should never learn about major updates through the news or social media before hearing them from leadership.
Customers expressing frustrations on social media – When customers feel unheard or confused due to unclear communication, they often turn to public platforms to voice their concerns.
Inconsistent or slow responses to customer inquiries – Poor responsiveness can damage brand reputation and customer loyalty, leading to lost revenue.
Confidential information being shared externally – A lack of clear guidelines on handling sensitive information can lead to leaks that harm trust with customers, employees, and investors.
Negative reviews on employer reputation platforms like Glassdoor – Poor internal communication can lead to disengaged employees, which often results in negative employer branding.
Decreased brand trust – Misalignment between what your brand promises and what it delivers erodes trust, making it harder to attract customers, partners, and investors.
Inconsistent brand messaging across channels – Without a clear external communication strategy, different teams may deliver conflicting messages, leading to confusion in the market.
Failure to handle crises effectively – If a business is reactive instead of proactive in crisis communication, misinformation can spread quickly and worsen the situation.
Difficulty attracting top talent – When a company’s culture and values don’t align with how an organization actually operates makes it harder to recruit and retain skilled employees who want to stay.
Missed media opportunities – Without clear messaging and a strong media relations strategy, organizations struggle to create a steady drumbeat of earned media and establish thought leadership in their industry.
How to Overcome These Challenges
The first step to becoming an organization that implements clear, proactive communication is ensuring you have a strategy in place. This strategy should include:
Goals and objectives
Key messaging to guide all communication
Key audiences
Tactics for implementation
Metrics for measuring effectiveness
It’s also important to remember that your communication strategy is a living document. It should be reviewed at least quarterly to ensure it still reflects your organization as it evolves.
Whether you’re in the early stages of building your organization or preparing for a significant growth phase, investing in your communications from the beginning will set you up for long-term success. If you’re interested in building a strategy that aligns both internal and external communications, let’s connect for a free 30-minute consultation. I’d love to learn about your organization and goals and discuss how we can develop a communications strategy that supports your growth.
Bonus Content: Download your FREE communications checklist to ensure clear and consistent internal and external communications.
