Who Really Runs Your Company? Internal Communicators Know Better

This is Edition 142 of my weekly Internal Comms Insights newsletter subscribed by 6960+ followers. Also, look up my blog (www.aniisu.com ), started in 2006, to access over 1000 free blogs, articles, case studies, interviews and more.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________Forget the CEO, the flamboyant execs, or even that "customer is king or queen" mantra you’ve been fed for years. The real Most Valuable Players (MVPs) in your organization? You probably don't even know their names. And that’s your biggest mistake. It’s internal communications that holds the key to figuring out who's actually moving the needle in your company. Not the ones you see, but the ones you overlook.

The Real Power Players

Not everyone with a corner office or fancy title wields power. Internal communications, if done right, exposes who really makes the gears turn. And spoiler alert - it's not always the ones with a fancy title. The so-called "influencers" within your company, those with deep, sometimes invisible, knowledge and networks, are the ones keeping the lights on. You fail to communicate with them at your own peril.

The Lie We’ve Been Living

Organizations love to brag about how their people are their "biggest asset." Really? How come a study from Columbia Business School found that during S&P 500 earnings calls, the word “customer” was mentioned five times more than “employee”? So much for all that "we value our people" rhetoric. The truth is, most companies have a yawning gap between what they preach and what they actually do.

The worst part? Organizations probably pouring millions into customer experience while ignoring the people holding their businesses together. Gallup says engaged employees drive 21% more profitability. But will treating them like second-class citizens work out great for you?

Where’s the Real Action?

In mature, process-heavy organizations, the “most important person” is often some exec you rarely see, whose decisions are more about protecting the status quo than driving change. But in younger, scrappy organizations? The power lies in the trenches. Frontline managers, the ones actually building relationships, are the people you should be listening to, but probably aren't.

Corporate Hypocrisy

The research doesn’t lie. McKinsey says that companies at the top of the employee experience ladder see double the innovation and customer satisfaction compared to those at the bottom. Still think you can afford to ignore who’s really important in your company?

Focusing on the Wrong People?

If your internal communication team isn't helping you figure out who holds the keys to your organization’s future, then it’s failing. This isn’t about sending out another company-wide memo or holding a town hall. This is about laser-focusing your communication efforts on the people who matter.

These hidden influencers? They’re not on your org chart. They're in the shadows, pulling the strings, making things happen. And if you don’t know who they are, you’re already losing the game.

The Change Catalysts

"Most important" shouldn’t just be a title - it’s about who can actually drive change. The people with deep, tacit knowledge, social capital, and the ability to navigate the often-toxic waters of office politics are your real power players. And they don’t need permission to wield influence. If you don’t even know their names, it is time you fix that.

You Can Get It Right

Just because someone holds influence doesn’t mean they’re getting through to the right people. This is where smart internal communications strategy comes in. Clear communication cuts through the noise, surfaces the unsung heroes, and puts them in the spotlight - before your organization’s lack of engagement drags it into the gutter.

Start listening to the people who actually know what’s going on. Or don’t. But don’t be surprised when the ship starts sinking, because those “non-influential” voices? They were the ones holding it together all along.

So, are the employee communication strategies, platforms and resources you use helping you find and tap the potential of these influencers?

If you are looking for the best platforms which can have some of the tools and features to get you on the right track, connect with me.

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Who am I?

I am Aniisu, an award-winning internal communications and change leader helping individuals and organizations discover and develop their 'sweet-spot' through effective communications. As a Linkedin Top Voice for Internal Communications & Personal Branding based in Sydney, Australia, I offer insights, perspectives and solutions at the intersection of these two evolving domains. I believe that organizations are an amalgamation of employees as 'personal brands' and when we include, involve and inspire staff as partners of change, together we can amplify our presence and advocacy.

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