Hi,

Happy New Year, friend! Let’s talk about the pressure cooker that is the month of January. Goals! Resolutions! Trends! Predictions!

My honest reaction — to quote Michael Scott: “Nope. Don’t like that.”

Every scroll right now surfaces another shiny article claiming to unlock the secrets of 2026. And while some are genuinely insightful (especially from voices I trust), they can also feel overwhelming. Like, “If I don’t rewrite my entire strategy by next Thursday, am I even doing my job?” and “Our company goals aren’t even set, how can I possibly set my comms goals?”

Here’s the truth: I’m buying less into the hype this year. And I don’t think I’m alone.

I’m trading in full strategic revamps for small intentional rhythms — micro-habits that bring clarity and calm into the chaos. The kind that keeps us anchored by building trust and reminding our people what really matters. Because while trends come and go, the fundamentals carry us through.

So take three deep breaths with me — in for 4, hold for 7, out for 8. Better, right? No? Try it again!

Here’s what’s worth holding onto as we step into the new year:

• Authenticity > aesthetics: Messages that sound overly polished or too much like AI get tuned out. Keep showing up with honesty and heart — it’s what fuels purpose and leaves a lasting impact.
• Two-way conversations > broadcasts: People want to feel communicated with not to in the workplace. They want to feel a part of the story. Find small ways to invite responses, reactions, and participation.
• Impact > output: Metrics matter, but meaning matters more. Swap vanity stats for ones that show action and are tied to business outcomes.

I’ve got some 2025 highlights you may have missed, a few blogs (yes, even trend ones) to steady your step into the new year, and quick tips to build simple rhythms that actually stick.

Top webinars of 2025. You’ll want to hit replay.

Articles and blogs are great, but sometimes it helps to hear a human explain the thing, share the why, and answer real-life questions. That’s what this roundup of Simpplr’s top webinars of 2025 delivers. Every one of them will leave you with practical takeaways to up your IC game this year.

A rhythm I try to keep is a recurring 30-minute calendar block every Friday to learn something new, and these webinars are the perfect thing to kick-start that journey for you. You don’t need a full learning plan to grow this year. Just a steady rhythm, a little curiosity, and the right voices in your corner.

1. Humans in the loop: internal comms in the age of AI
2. How MasterControl revived employee engagement with a next-generation intranet
3. Keeping it real: 5 ways to make communication more authentic
4. Reinventing the intranet with AI: see Simpplr in action
5. Elevating change management: tips for transforming the employee experience

Beyond the buzz: 7 HR trends that actually hold up

Speaking of the right voices, this one speaks to all of us — whether you live in internal comms, lead in HR, or straddle both in the world of employee experience.

Miriam Connaughton, Simpplr’s Chief People and Experience Officer, brings her signature clarity and candor to what’s ahead in 2026. From the rise of the “augmented human” to rethinking how we support managers, scale trust, and design truly human-centric workplaces, this trend piece doesn’t chase hype. Her seven HR trends for 2026 will give you a grounded view of what actually matters — your PPL.

Not a trend piece. A truth piece.

Turns out, Carolyn Clark isn’t buying into the hype either. In her most recent LinkedIn post, she walks through the last four decades of IC history and finds the same foundational needs at every turn: clarity, trust, voice, and care.

Her biggest takeaway? AI isn’t replacing work — it’s exposing the real work. Yes, we’re weaving in automation where it makes sense, but we’re keeping the humanness: context, judgment, and empathy. Because we’re not just messengers, we’re meaning-makers. And in a world where disruption and distrust feel insurmountable, this job has never mattered more.

Customer voices

Latest from Simpplr

Newsletter wrap-up

It’s easy to get caught up in the hype of what’s ahead. But I want to encourage you to stay grounded in the right now. Look ahead with anticipation so you aren’t caught off guard, but focus on what you can control — the small adjustments that change the trajectory of everything else.

I’ve been guilty of chasing trends that never quite panned out. Of building plans based on what others said would work, only to realize they didn’t fit my reality. We start with confidence, mapping big ideas based on someone else’s insight — and suddenly we’re here:

Relatable, right? That’s the danger of chasing every shiny thing — of building strategies with no room to adapt. But when you build in small, consistent rhythms (like the ones in this edition’s Quick Tip), you create clarity. You gather just enough data and direction to help you decide what comes next — what to say, when to say it, and where it matters most.

You don’t need a massive overhaul to make an impact this year. You need rhythm. Awareness. And the courage to keep showing up with heart.

You’ve got this. Let’s make 2026 count.

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