My most valuable lesson with people in the PMI process is transparent communication. If you have your integration plan ready, communicate timely and be honest. People need to know what to expect and what the impact is on them personally. This helps in accepting the change and getting them on board to help in this change.
It’s better to have a deal than no deal between acquirer and acquirees team when performing the sales integration. The last thing you want is to have two resources contacting a client and introducing themselves as their “new relationship manager”
The change management process is complex and some individuals may struggle more than others. As mentioned above, identifying key influencers/thought leaders and how they may be helping, or hurting, the effort for others is important so you can focus on helping them through the process to ensure they’re using their influence to move others in the desired direction.
Not to underestimate the importance of impact assessments as they are integral to developing your communications and change management strategy. Not everyone will experience the integration in the same way, so understanding the unique needs and concerns of different stakeholder groups can help ensure a smooth transition. The impact assessment should guide how communication is tailored to these different groups so that it is relevant and targeted to each group’s specific impact – improving understanding can play an important role in the implementation & adoption of any changes as a result of the integration.
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned during the PMI process is the importance of empathy and adaptability. Integrations are about aligning people, and that requires understanding their fears, motivations, and ways of working. I’ve been a manager for more than 10 years, but nothing taught me more than managing an acquired company in the midst of change.