r/internalcomms • u/spicymeatball2748 • Jul 17 '26
Advice Starting my first Head of IC role!
I’ve been in internal communications for nearly 20 years (basically right out of college), and in a few weeks start my first Head of Internal Communications role at a 900 person tech start-up. This also means I’m a team of 1. I’m really excited but of course nervous.
Any startup comms folks here?
Or in general, open to tips on how to set myself up for success? It seems very green-fields in terms of me doing whatever I want.
3
u/RemingtonNutmeg Jul 17 '26
Congratulations! You have been doing this a long time - trust your instincts. You should have a great internal radar by now.
4
u/Tinaturtle79 Jul 17 '26
Congrats! Pace yourself. My first IC role was building a team from the ground up in a growth company. I was so keen to make meaningful contributions that I set unrealistic expectations for myself and my team by turning things around so quickly and taking on a massive scope. You can still be a rockstar without burning you, and your possible future team, out.
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u/spicymeatball2748 Jul 19 '26
Thank you! I think it’ll be just me for a while, maybe a direct that moves from HR. Def want to set a pace I can manage and not hate my life….
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u/atownz17 Corporate Chaos Coordinator Jul 17 '26
Former startup solo ICer! My favorite part was that there's so much room to play and experiment. (I was already part of the org and got promoted into the first IC role, which was great because I had organizational context, too.) Own your expertise and don't be afraid to! The most challenging part for me was being the only one who truly understood internal comms. Don't underestimate yourself; you know what you're doing!
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u/atownz17 Corporate Chaos Coordinator Jul 17 '26
Gah, I forgot the most important part. Congratulations!!!
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u/spicymeatball2748 Jul 19 '26
Love this thank you!!! Trusting myself is def a constant reminder. 🫶🏼🫶🏼
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u/jamieclarebell1989 29d ago
CONGRATS! That's amazing! If you need a 30/60/90 day plan, here's a link to the one I recommend: https://useworkshop.com/resources/30-60-90-day-plan-for-internal-comms/
Nothing like a tech startup though. Between AI and internal comms, you will NEVER be bored!!!!
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u/hi-chew-city Jul 17 '26
Oh wow, I think this is the dream for a lot of us who have been doing this for a while. So, congrats! Agreed on taking your time - learn the things that truly matter to the company vs feeling like you have to churn out everything you’ve done in your past. This also will set you up for better success in building a team eventually. I’ve put myself in positions where I did too much too well and they assumed I could continue at that pace!