Building Culture Through Strategic Internal Communication

Episode 223

Released December 11, 2025

Guest: Alejandra Ramirez, Founder of Ready Cultures

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Sue is joined by Alejandra Ramirez, an internal communications specialist with nearly 20 years of experience helping service-driven businesses shape their culture from the inside out. Together, they explore why so many organisations struggle to turn their values into lived reality—and what leaders can do about it.

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The Culture Gap

We've all seen it: values proudly displayed on office walls that bear little resemblance to how things actually work day-to-day. Alejandra explains that whilst companies often start with the best intentions when defining their vision and values, they frequently forget to bridge the gap between what leadership wants to say and how employees actually receive it.

The cost of this disconnect shows up in ways that aren't always traced back to culture—high turnover, low engagement, internal politics, and slower decision-making. As Alejandra puts it, "Your culture is only as strong as your communication."

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The 3-H Framework

To help leaders communicate more effectively, Alejandra introduces her 3-H Framework: Head, Heart, and Hands.

Head – Is your message clear? Do people understand what's happening and have access to the facts they need?

Heart – Does it connect emotionally? Have you explained why this matters to them personally and to the success of the organisation?

Hands – Is there a clear call to action? Do people know exactly what they need to do differently as a result?

Alejandra shares a real-world example where a company had launched a valuable internal tool, but without strategic communication around it, the tool simply sat unused. By auditing where the breakdowns were and applying the 3-H Framework, she helped them successfully relaunch with far greater adoption.

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Crisis-Proofing Your Culture

Sue and Alejandra also discuss the importance of what Alejandra calls "crisis-proofing"—building strong communication habits during good times so that when challenges arise, your people are already primed to listen and trust what you're telling them.

The conversation touches on those uncomfortable "undercurrents" that exist in many workplaces—the new competitor being built down the road that everyone can see but nobody's discussing. Alejandra emphasises that people aren't stupid; they notice what's being avoided. Leaders who address these elephants in the room, rather than hoping they'll go unnoticed, build far stronger trust with their teams.

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The Hidden Cost of Poor Communication

One of the most striking points in this episode is the hidden cost of cultural breakdown. As Sue notes, by the time a valued, long-standing employee hands in their notice, they've usually been mentally leaving for quite some time. The institutional knowledge they take with them is often irreplaceable.

Even high achievers will burn out and leave if the goalposts keep shifting and there's no clarity on how to get from A to B. Process, she reminds us, is communication—and without clear, consistent processes, productivity and morale both suffer.

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Key Takeaways

Internal communication isn't just meetings and memos—it's a leadership skill that turns strategy into action and values into lived culture. Whilst many organisations invest heavily in external PR and messaging, the same rigour is rarely applied internally. Getting this right consistently can be the edge that sets your organisation apart.

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Connect with Alejandra Ramirez

Website: readycultures.com – Download the 3-H Framework workbook directly from the homepage
LinkedIn: Alejandra Ramirez-Wells
Email: [e-mail]

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