Interactive Leadership Diaries: A Peek Behind the Corporate Curtain

The one thing corporate communications don’t need more of is rigid, top-down leadership messages. You know the type: perfectly worded, impersonal updates that feel like they were written by a chatbot and edited by a committee before being bulk-mailed to a captive audience of salary slaves.

Instead, what if you prized open the stony-faced sarcophagus of traditional leadership communication and breathed some real-life into it. Made it real-time, interactive, and—wait for it—human?

Enter the interactive leadership diary: a fresh way for leaders to provide ongoing, personal updates that enhance employee engagement and foster transparent communication.

This is more than a quarterly newsletter signed off with a generic “Best regards, [Insert CEO Name].” It’s a live, evolving conversation between leadership and the rest of the company.

Why It Works 

People crave transparency, and more than that, most want to feel connected to their leadership.

Not because they’re creepy or insecure or overly needy, but because if they’re going to follow the dictates of someone who exerts so much control over such a big part of their life, they’d like to trust and respect them rather than doubt and fear them.

An interactive leadership diary bridges that gap by offering a peek behind the curtain—leaders can share what they’re working on, key decisions, personal reflections, or even challenges they’re facing.

By giving employees the chance to comment, ask questions, or react, you create a two-way street that helps build connection and keeps everyone in the loop.

See it as your favourite Instagram Stories meets internal comms: a mix of updates, reflections, and behind-the-scenes glimpses that people can follow and interact with in real time.

And because it’s personal, it fosters a sense of authenticity—this isn’t about just dropping corporate jargon from on high; it’s about sharing real thoughts and inviting feedback.

How to Make It Happen

Once leaders makes the commitment to communicate and connect with authenticity in real time, setting up an interactive leadership diary is pretty straightforward.

You can use existing platforms like your company intranet or collaboration tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams to keep it simple. Here’s how to do it:

1. Choose Your Platform: Use tools that employees are already familiar with. Whether it’s a dedicated Slack channel for leadership updates or a section on the intranet, keep it accessible and easy to navigate.

2. Post Regular, Short Updates: This isn’t about crafting long-winded essays—it’s about frequent, bite-sized updates that feel personal. Leaders can share what’s happening that week, what they’re focusing on, some reflections on a recent meeting or decision, a comment on a competitor development, or even some relevant industry or economic news item.

3. Encourage Feedback and Questions: Make the diary interactive by encouraging employees to comment, ask questions, or react with likes or emojis. It’s a simple way to foster dialogue and keep people engaged.

4. Make it Visual: Throw in photos, video clips, Gifs, memes or voice notes. The more dynamic the content, the more likely people are to engage with it.

Why The Big Dogs Would Like This Idea

@Brene Brown would support this idea because she believes true leadership is more about showing up right, being seen, and creating trust than about pretence and perfection.

@Simon Sinek might argue that employees are more likely to follow leaders they trust. When leaders consistently communicate in a transparent and interactive way, they reinforce the ‘why’ behind their decisions.

@Ann Handley, an expert in content and storytelling, might go as far as saying content that feels real and engaging always wins. Leadership diaries let leaders tell their story in a way that turns faceless updates into memorable moments of connection.

Practical Tips

• Keep It Real: This isn’t the place for corporate-speak. If leaders don’t feel comfortable writing in a casual tone, record short videos or voice messages instead.

• Stay Consistent: Regularity is key. If you’re only posting once every couple of months, it feels forced. Short, weekly updates keep the dialogue going and make leadership feel more approachable.

• Respond to Feedback: It’s not just about posting—it’s about listening. Encourage leaders to reply to comments or questions to keep the conversation flowing.

Pro Tip 

Get other leaders involved. While it’s great to hear from the CEO, it’s equally important to hear from department heads. Create a leadership diary rotation where different leaders contribute their own updates to keep things fresh and provide a wider perspective.

What Next

Want more ideas on how to make corporate comms more human, transparent, and engaging? Look out for the upcoming ebook, packed with 12 creative strategies that can help how you connect with your team.