August 26, 2025 • 10 mins
We explore the challenge of making important workplace communications cut through digital noise and actually reach employees. This episode examines how traditional tools like email are failing under the strain of information overload, and presents innovative solutions using "glance media" and passive touchpoints.
• The average professional receives 120+ emails daily, creating digital fatigue where important messages get buried
• Traditional communication channels (email, intranet) are diminishing in effectiveness as attention becomes fragmented
• "Glance media" uses passive touchpoints like screensavers, lock screens, and digital signage to deliver information without interrupting workflow
• High-frequency, low-effort communication strategies work with people's natural behaviour rather than against it
• AI tools can enhance communication but still require human strategists to ensure messages connect emotionally
• The science of spaced repetition proves that important messages need multiple exposures to be retained
• Multi-channel approaches are essential for hybrid and asynchronous work environments
• Solutions like Vibe FYI help implement these principles through strategic content delivery systems
Check out www.vibe.fyi for more information about modern workplace communication strategies and making your messages stick.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the cast of Good Vibes.
Today we're looking intosomething that probably feels
familiar to well almost everyoneWorkplace communication.
Specifically, how do you makesure important messages actually
get through when everyone'sdrowning in digital noise?
Speaker 2 (00:15):
It's a huge challenge .
We're constantly connected,tons of messages flying around,
but are people really absorbingthe critical stuff?
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Exactly, and we've got some really interesting
insights on this, particularlydrawing from the work of Vaughn
Reed, the founder and CEO ofVibe FYI.
So our mission today is tofigure out how companies can
stop their key messages fromjust disappearing into that
digital void.
How can we make them seen,understood and, crucially, acted
upon.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Yeah, it's time to rethink how we deliver
information, not just what wesend.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Let's start there then.
This kind of paradox, constantcommunication but a real
struggle to connect Are ourstandard tools.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
email, the company intranet are they actually
failing us now?
Well, failing might be strong,but they're certainly under
strain.
It's this digital overloadphenomenon that Vaughn Reed
talks about.
You know, there's that stat theaverage person gets something
like 120 emails a day, maybemore, Wow 120 emails.
Yeah, and then you layer on theendless chat, pings, the
(01:15):
newsletters, the corporateupdates.
It's nonstop.
It creates this always on fire,hose of information.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
And you'd think more info means more informed.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
But it often means the opposite.
Engagement rates can actuallydrop.
People get fatigued, they tuneout Important stuff.
It just gets buried or honestlyignored.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
You probably felt this yourself right, that
feeling of just informationoverload.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Absolutely, we all have.
So those reliable channels,email, intranets they become
part of the noise if they're theonly way you're communicating.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Okay, so unpack this a bit, our old, reliable tools
like email and intranet.
They're quite cutting itanymore on their own.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
That's a really key point.
Traditional methods justsending an email blast, posting
on the intranet maybe in anothermeeting.
The returns are diminishing,attention is fragmented.
We really need to rethink thewhole delivery model.
It means moving towards a moremulti-channel approach.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Okay, here's where it gets really interesting.
What does this rethinking thedelivery model actually look
like for teams?
How do we do that without justadding more noise?
Speaker 2 (02:17):
That's the critical question.
It's not about adding anotherapp or sending more emails.
It's about being smarter usingdifferent kinds of touch points.
It's about leveraging what youmight call passive
high-frequency digital touchpoints and, specifically, this
idea of glance media glancemedia.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
I like that.
It sounds quick, easy to digest, almost ambient exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
It's information you absorb almost incidentally,
without having to actively seekit out or interrupt what you're
doing so.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
So what are some examples?
How does this work in practice?
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Well, think about the screens people already look at
constantly First screensaversand lock screens.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Ah, okay, the idle screens.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Right, often overlooks.
But think about it when yourcomputer goes idle, instead of
just you know a blank screen ora generic picture, it could show
a quick cybersecurity tip, acompany value reminder, an
upcoming deadline.
It's passive reinforcement thatmakes sense.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
What else?
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Then there's digital signage.
This is huge, especially forreaching everyone, including
frontline or non-desk workers,putting screens in high traffic
areas, break rooms, lobbies,workshops, even meeting rooms,
displaying dynamic content,company news, safety updates, hr
initiatives.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
So people see it as they move around their day.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Precisely, and it's not necessarily complex tech.
These days, you can oftenintegrate it with existing
systems.
And another one is backgroundwallpapers on desktops.
It's subtle, yeah, but itoffers this persistent branding
or culture message.
It's just there reinforcingthings gently, without
disrupting workflow.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
So the big idea is integrating information into the
workday's natural flow, notjust fighting for inbox
attention.
It works with email and chat,not against them.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
That's exactly it.
It complements the activechannels.
Glance Media works because it'shigh frequency but low effort
for the employee.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
High frequency, low effort.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
They don't have to do anything extra.
The message finds them.
Think about it.
Instead of five emails about anew HR program, maybe you have
one email announcement, but thenreinforce the key takeaways on
digital signs and screensaversfor a few weeks but then
reinforce the key takeaways ondigital signs and screensavers
for a few weeks Like thosecybersecurity tips you mentioned
(04:25):
earlier.
pop them on the lock screeninstead of another easily
ignored email, exactly.
Or promoting well-beinginitiatives, de&i programs,
things that benefit from gentle,consistent reminders rather
than just a single announcementthat gets lost.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
This makes a lot of sense.
It feels more organic.
Now let's shift gears slightly.
There's this other massiveforce, ai.
How does artificialintelligence fit into this
communication puzzle?
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Ah, ai, yeah, it's a game changer.
No doubt Platforms likeMicrosoft Copilot are becoming
embedded right into our dailytools.
Ai can automate a lot rightDrafting initial communications,
summarizing long reports, evenhelping tailor messages for
different teams or roles basedon data.
It can handle some of the heavylifting in content creation.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Okay, so AI can churn out the content faster and make
it more targeted, but does thatmean the message actually lands
?
Does it resonate any better?
What's the impact on the actualcommunicators, the humans
involved?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
That's the crucial point, isn't it?
Ai can write a message, but itdoesn't inherently build trust
or ensure understanding or, youknow, convey genuine empathy.
So the role of the internalcommunicator is shifting it's
less about being purely acontent creator and more about
being a curator, a strategist,an architect of alignment and
trust.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
So they're guiding how and where information shows
up.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Exactly.
They become the orchestrators.
They might use AI to generateinsights or draft initial
messages, but then they decidewhat's the core message?
How do we make it stick?
Where do we reinforce it?
And that's where Glance Mediabecomes a powerful layer again
taking AI-generated summaries ortraining points and putting
them onto screensavers ordigital signage reinforcing
(06:00):
without clogging the inbox.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
It really highlights that the human touch is still
vital, maybe even more so withAI deciding what needs repeating
, shaping the narrative so itfeels authentic.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Absolutely.
Ai is a tool, a powerful one,but human judgment guides the
strategy, ensures the messageconnects emotionally and makes
sure technology servesconnection rather than replacing
it.
Ai might write the words, butthe human ensures they're truly
seen and felt.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
And that human oversight seems essential as
work itself keeps changing morehybrid teams, more asynchronous
work.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Definitely, that shift makes effective, adaptable
communication strategies evenmore critical.
You can't rely on everyonebeing in the same room or
reading email at the same time.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
So, thinking about the future, how do we build
communication strategies thatare ready for what's next?
What are the key priorities?
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Well based on the trends Von Reed and others are
highlighting.
There are a few clearpriorities.
First, really diversifyingcommunication channels, getting
serious about moving beyond justemail and chat, incorporating
those passive strategies.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Okay, diversification , what else?
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Second, smartly leveraging AI, not just for
volume, but for personalizationand data-driven insights.
Using AI to help deliver theright message to the right
person at the right time.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Makes sense Using the tech intelligently.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
And third and this is crucial is really understanding
and using the power ofrepetition, reinforcing key
messages strategically.
There's solid behavioralscience behind this, like the
principle of spaced repetition.
You don't learn somethingcomplex by seeing it once.
You need repeated exposure overtime for it to really sink into
long-term memory.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Well, like learning a language, you don't just read
the textbook once.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Exactly so.
Internal comms needs to thinksimilarly.
Key messages need to berepeated, maybe in different
formats, across differentchannels over time.
Once is almost never enough.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
So the big takeaway here seems to be the future
isn't about shouting louder orsending more.
It's about being smarter, morestrategic, focusing on
visibility and effectiveness.
Quality over just quantity.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Precisely the organizations that figure this
out, that embrace thesemulti-touchpoint strategies, use
AI wisely and understandrepetition.
They're the ones who will buildworkplaces that are genuinely
more informed, connected andaligned.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Which brings us back to that core challenge how do
you make communication engaging,make it stick, without adding
to the digital burnout?
Speaker 2 (08:25):
That's the million-dollar question, isn't
it?
And this is where solutionsspecifically designed for this
challenge come into play.
Von Reed's company Vibe, forexample, focuses directly on
this.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Right Vibe, how do they tackle it?
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Their approach is about empowering communication
teams to easily create and sharevisually engaging, inspiring
content that's suited for thesedifferent channels and,
crucially, they build inmechanisms to leverage that
spaced repetition.
We talked about allowingmessages to be drip fed over
time, reinforcing them passivelyacross screensavers, digital
signage, wallpapers, all thoseglance media touch points.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
So they provide the tools to actually implement this
multi-channel, repetition-basedstrategy effectively.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Yes, helping teams put these principles into
practice to ensure key messagesare seen, absorbed and
remembered.
Cutting through that noisewithout just adding to it.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
It really circles back to making sure your message
doesn't just get sent but trulygets received.
That seems to be the key.
Well, this has been afascinating conversation.
Lots to think about in terms ofhow we communicate at work.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Definitely.
And before we wrap up, maybe aquick thought for you, the
listener, to consider thinkingabout your own organization.
Which glance media strategymaybe screensavers or digital
signs in a common area Could youexplore implementing, even on a
small scale, to start cuttingthrough the noise this week?
Speaker 1 (09:44):
That's a great practical takeaway.
Thank you for joining us on thecast of Good Vibes.
Yeah, if you want to exploremore about modern workplace
communication and how to makeyour messages stick, you can
check out vibefyi.
That's vibefyi.
Thanks for tuning in and we'llcatch you next time on the cast
of Good Vibes.
Welcome to the cast of Good Vibes.
Today we're looking intosomething that probably feels
familiar to well almost everyoneWorkplace communication.
Specifically, how do you makesure important messages actually
get through when everyone'sdrowning in digital noise?
Speaker 2 (00:15):
It's a huge challenge .
We're constantly connected,tons of messages flying around,
but are people really absorbingthe critical stuff?
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Exactly, and we've got some really interesting
insights on this, particularlydrawing from the work of Vaughn
Reed, the founder and CEO ofVibe FYI.
So our mission today is tofigure out how companies can
stop their key messages fromjust disappearing into that
digital void.
How can we make them seen,understood and, crucially, acted
upon.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Yeah, it's time to rethink how we deliver
information, not just what wesend.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Let's start there then.
This kind of paradox, constantcommunication but a real
struggle to connect Are ourstandard tools.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
email, the company intranet are they actually
failing us now?
Well, failing might be strong,but they're certainly under
strain.
It's this digital overloadphenomenon that Vaughn Reed
talks about.
You know, there's that stat theaverage person gets something
like 120 emails a day, maybemore, Wow 120 emails.
Yeah, and then you layer on theendless chat, pings, the
(01:15):
newsletters, the corporateupdates.
It's nonstop.
It creates this always on fire,hose of information.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
And you'd think more info means more informed.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
But it often means the opposite.
Engagement rates can actuallydrop.
People get fatigued, they tuneout Important stuff.
It just gets buried or honestlyignored.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
You probably felt this yourself right, that
feeling of just informationoverload.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Absolutely, we all have.
So those reliable channels,email, intranets they become
part of the noise if they're theonly way you're communicating.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Okay, so unpack this a bit, our old, reliable tools
like email and intranet.
They're quite cutting itanymore on their own.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
That's a really key point.
Traditional methods justsending an email blast, posting
on the intranet maybe in anothermeeting.
The returns are diminishing,attention is fragmented.
We really need to rethink thewhole delivery model.
It means moving towards a moremulti-channel approach.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
Okay, here's where it gets really interesting.
What does this rethinking thedelivery model actually look
like for teams?
How do we do that without justadding more noise?
Speaker 2 (02:17):
That's the critical question.
It's not about adding anotherapp or sending more emails.
It's about being smarter usingdifferent kinds of touch points.
It's about leveraging what youmight call passive
high-frequency digital touchpoints and, specifically, this
idea of glance media glancemedia.
Speaker 1 (02:35):
I like that.
It sounds quick, easy to digest, almost ambient exactly.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
It's information you absorb almost incidentally,
without having to actively seekit out or interrupt what you're
doing so.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
So what are some examples?
How does this work in practice?
Speaker 2 (02:47):
Well, think about the screens people already look at
constantly First screensaversand lock screens.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Ah, okay, the idle screens.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
Right, often overlooks.
But think about it when yourcomputer goes idle, instead of
just you know a blank screen ora generic picture, it could show
a quick cybersecurity tip, acompany value reminder, an
upcoming deadline.
It's passive reinforcement thatmakes sense.
Speaker 1 (03:09):
What else?
Speaker 2 (03:09):
Then there's digital signage.
This is huge, especially forreaching everyone, including
frontline or non-desk workers,putting screens in high traffic
areas, break rooms, lobbies,workshops, even meeting rooms,
displaying dynamic content,company news, safety updates, hr
initiatives.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
So people see it as they move around their day.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Precisely, and it's not necessarily complex tech.
These days, you can oftenintegrate it with existing
systems.
And another one is backgroundwallpapers on desktops.
It's subtle, yeah, but itoffers this persistent branding
or culture message.
It's just there reinforcingthings gently, without
disrupting workflow.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
So the big idea is integrating information into the
workday's natural flow, notjust fighting for inbox
attention.
It works with email and chat,not against them.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
That's exactly it.
It complements the activechannels.
Glance Media works because it'shigh frequency but low effort
for the employee.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
High frequency, low effort.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
They don't have to do anything extra.
The message finds them.
Think about it.
Instead of five emails about anew HR program, maybe you have
one email announcement, but thenreinforce the key takeaways on
digital signs and screensaversfor a few weeks but then
reinforce the key takeaways ondigital signs and screensavers
for a few weeks Like thosecybersecurity tips you mentioned
(04:25):
earlier.
pop them on the lock screeninstead of another easily
ignored email, exactly.
Or promoting well-beinginitiatives, de&i programs,
things that benefit from gentle,consistent reminders rather
than just a single announcementthat gets lost.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
This makes a lot of sense.
It feels more organic.
Now let's shift gears slightly.
There's this other massiveforce, ai.
How does artificialintelligence fit into this
communication puzzle?
Speaker 2 (04:45):
Ah, ai, yeah, it's a game changer.
No doubt Platforms likeMicrosoft Copilot are becoming
embedded right into our dailytools.
Ai can automate a lot rightDrafting initial communications,
summarizing long reports, evenhelping tailor messages for
different teams or roles basedon data.
It can handle some of the heavylifting in content creation.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Okay, so AI can churn out the content faster and make
it more targeted, but does thatmean the message actually lands
?
Does it resonate any better?
What's the impact on the actualcommunicators, the humans
involved?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
That's the crucial point, isn't it?
Ai can write a message, but itdoesn't inherently build trust
or ensure understanding or, youknow, convey genuine empathy.
So the role of the internalcommunicator is shifting it's
less about being purely acontent creator and more about
being a curator, a strategist,an architect of alignment and
trust.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
So they're guiding how and where information shows
up.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Exactly.
They become the orchestrators.
They might use AI to generateinsights or draft initial
messages, but then they decidewhat's the core message?
How do we make it stick?
Where do we reinforce it?
And that's where Glance Mediabecomes a powerful layer again
taking AI-generated summaries ortraining points and putting
them onto screensavers ordigital signage reinforcing
(06:00):
without clogging the inbox.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
It really highlights that the human touch is still
vital, maybe even more so withAI deciding what needs repeating
, shaping the narrative so itfeels authentic.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Absolutely.
Ai is a tool, a powerful one,but human judgment guides the
strategy, ensures the messageconnects emotionally and makes
sure technology servesconnection rather than replacing
it.
Ai might write the words, butthe human ensures they're truly
seen and felt.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
And that human oversight seems essential as
work itself keeps changing morehybrid teams, more asynchronous
work.
Speaker 2 (06:31):
Definitely, that shift makes effective, adaptable
communication strategies evenmore critical.
You can't rely on everyonebeing in the same room or
reading email at the same time.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
So, thinking about the future, how do we build
communication strategies thatare ready for what's next?
What are the key priorities?
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Well based on the trends Von Reed and others are
highlighting.
There are a few clearpriorities.
First, really diversifyingcommunication channels, getting
serious about moving beyond justemail and chat, incorporating
those passive strategies.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Okay, diversification , what else?
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Second, smartly leveraging AI, not just for
volume, but for personalizationand data-driven insights.
Using AI to help deliver theright message to the right
person at the right time.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
Makes sense Using the tech intelligently.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
And third and this is crucial is really understanding
and using the power ofrepetition, reinforcing key
messages strategically.
There's solid behavioralscience behind this, like the
principle of spaced repetition.
You don't learn somethingcomplex by seeing it once.
You need repeated exposure overtime for it to really sink into
long-term memory.
Speaker 1 (07:38):
Well, like learning a language, you don't just read
the textbook once.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
Exactly so.
Internal comms needs to thinksimilarly.
Key messages need to berepeated, maybe in different
formats, across differentchannels over time.
Once is almost never enough.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
So the big takeaway here seems to be the future
isn't about shouting louder orsending more.
It's about being smarter, morestrategic, focusing on
visibility and effectiveness.
Quality over just quantity.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
Precisely the organizations that figure this
out, that embrace thesemulti-touchpoint strategies, use
AI wisely and understandrepetition.
They're the ones who will buildworkplaces that are genuinely
more informed, connected andaligned.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Which brings us back to that core challenge how do
you make communication engaging,make it stick, without adding
to the digital burnout?
Speaker 2 (08:25):
That's the million-dollar question, isn't
it?
And this is where solutionsspecifically designed for this
challenge come into play.
Von Reed's company Vibe, forexample, focuses directly on
this.
Speaker 1 (08:35):
Right Vibe, how do they tackle it?
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Their approach is about empowering communication
teams to easily create and sharevisually engaging, inspiring
content that's suited for thesedifferent channels and,
crucially, they build inmechanisms to leverage that
spaced repetition.
We talked about allowingmessages to be drip fed over
time, reinforcing them passivelyacross screensavers, digital
signage, wallpapers, all thoseglance media touch points.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
So they provide the tools to actually implement this
multi-channel, repetition-basedstrategy effectively.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Yes, helping teams put these principles into
practice to ensure key messagesare seen, absorbed and
remembered.
Cutting through that noisewithout just adding to it.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
It really circles back to making sure your message
doesn't just get sent but trulygets received.
That seems to be the key.
Well, this has been afascinating conversation.
Lots to think about in terms ofhow we communicate at work.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
Definitely.
And before we wrap up, maybe aquick thought for you, the
listener, to consider thinkingabout your own organization.
Which glance media strategymaybe screensavers or digital
signs in a common area Could youexplore implementing, even on a
small scale, to start cuttingthrough the noise this week?
Speaker 1 (09:44):
That's a great practical takeaway.
Thank you for joining us on thecast of Good Vibes.
Yeah, if you want to exploremore about modern workplace
communication and how to makeyour messages stick, you can
check out vibefyi.
That's vibefyi.
Thanks for tuning in and we'llcatch you next time on the cast
of Good Vibes.
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