Smooth Business Acquisitions

May 10, 2024

by a searcher from Stanford University - Graduate School of Business in Dallas, TX, USA

In your experience with business acquisitions, how do you navigate and address potential challenges or resistance from the existing team, and what strategies have proven effective in fostering a smooth transition and integration of the acquired company into the broader organizational structure?

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Reply by a searcher
from North Park University in Orlando, FL, USA

It's great to hear that you are thinking about this critical step in ETA, because I'm not sure everyone does! I agree with Patrick and would add over-communication is key! Sharing everything you can, as you go along, helped me a ton in my experience. Also, each team member is thinking "what is going to happen to me" and/or "what's in it for me". Depending on the size of the team, it might not be possible, but I did one on one's with all 45 people at my last company asking about their role, their professional goals, what's working/not working and really listened and answered every question I could. It helped to build those relationships and trust. You can't win them all, but being intentional will go a very long way with the majority of your new team!

Reply by a searcher
from University of Denver in Boston, MA, USA

I've found early on you build relationships, LISTEN a lot, and follow through on every little thing to build trust. Try to run ideas by key employees to get their buy in and then disseminate info out. After a few months you need to stop playing defense and play offense - drive new sales, drive change if needed, be decisive. And also realize that some employees will never fully embrace you because that felt blindsided by the sale.....it is what it is. Implementing EOS helps too - align on vision, scorecard drives accountability, and the quarterly rocks get decided by leadership on what needs to change.

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