Mergers & Acquisitions
The great thing about M&A deals is the opportunity they present to combine two talented, experienced teams of professionals into one group. The danger of mergers and acquisitions comes from combining two teams with differing cultures, attitudes, goals and egos into one group. Just as the right mix of people can be an explosive catalyst for your business, the wrong mix can see everything blow up in your face.
Not long ago, I invited David Shriner-Cahn to join me on the Fueling Deals podcast. David is the host of Smashing the Plateau, a highly regarded podcast with more than 400 episodes of wisdom that entrepreneurs and business professionals can draw from to help their business break through to the next level of success. David’s podcast has been featured in Forbes Magazine’s “Three Podcasts to Power Up Your Ultra-Lean Business,” and has appeared on the list of Inc. Magazine’s “5 Entrepreneurs That Will Change the Way You Communicate.”
During our discussion, David and I talk about the important things to keep in mind before a merger or acquisition, and the key steps that need to be taken after the deal is complete. There are a lot of critical considerations to keep in mind when trying to successfully integrate two established teams, and David offers guidance to help you navigate the delicate period of time after a merger or acquisition has been completed.
Before You Sign
As you know, the purpose of this podcast is to help you expand your business with inorganic growth through deals. But this kind of growth comes with its own challenges for which you need to prepare well in advance. It’s important to know what you’re getting into and ensure that your company culture and that of your merger or acquisition partner will integrate smoothly.
You also need to go into the deal with a game plan to address communication needs, help your two teams get to know and trust each other, and establish a clear hierarchy of roles within the new post-merge organization. If you take the time to prepare in advance of the deal, you can help guarantee a much smoother transition once the deal is complete.
After You Merge
The biggest difficulties you’ll face once the deal is complete stems from fear. Mergers can be disrupting and chaotic and, if your team is afraid of the future, it makes things so much more challenging. Addressing those fears with clarity and sincerity is key.
One-on-one conversations, open and frequent lines of communication, and trust and interaction between the C-suite and the ground-level employees is vital. By recognizing, addressing, and alleviating fears on a continual basis, you can accelerate the integration of your teams and strengthen the resulting culture after the merger or acquisition.
Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator and dealmaker. He has more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author and professional speaker who is passionate about deal-driven growth. He is also the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast.
If you want to find out how deal-ready you are, take the Deal- Ready Assessment today!