A new study by Gallagher, published in March 2026, of over 1,300 communications and HR professionals reveals a widening “Readiness Gap” between where organizations are and where they need to be to maximize performance in today’s volatile business environment.
Gallagher’s 2026 Employee Communications Report, based on their 18th annual State of the Sector survey, identifies four critical priorities for communications teams:
- clarity and direction,
- workforce readiness,
- operational enablement, and
- human-centric communication.
The findings highlight significant operational challenges. Organizations with high communication volumes experience a 30% jump in leadership trust risks, while 87% of respondents cite manager capability as a major concern. Only 21% provide tool-kits to support managers effectively.
Technology adoption remains fragmented. While AI experimentation continues, 75% of teams remain stuck in early-stage discussions or ad-hoc testing. However, organizations with formal AI governance are significantly more likely to use the technology strategically rather than for basic tasks alone.
The study also reveals personalization gaps, with fewer than one in five organizations satisfied with their ability to customize content through current channels, and over three-quarters failing to use audience profiling techniques regularly.
As change communication becomes business-as-usual rather than a discrete skill set, organizations that close this readiness gap will gain competitive advantage in talent retention and operational agility.
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