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Failing to plan, planning to fail: Part two If growth through M&A is part of your strategic plan, be prepared to embrace the integration process with an open mind.
L ast week we discussed strategic planning and how it is an integral part of growing the value of your firm. The firms that have undergone the strategic planning process with us have seen massive success. As an example, one of the firms we have helped through this process set a goal of growing from 100 people to 850 people in 10 years. They are well on their way. If you find yourself on either side of the buyer/seller equation, what should you expect and how should you react during the integration phase, post-transaction?
Phil Keil
out? Should you get your resume ready and start looking for other jobs? No! The ideal reaction is to embrace the integration process. You have a lot more power than you think, and it may just be the best thing to ever happen in your professional life. You can emerge with more knowledge, visibility, and skills, all of which can be leveraged moving forward. “A successful transition requires enthusiastic support from leadership and clear communication. Firm leaders only get one opportunity to do it right.”
We are big fans of open book management here at Zweig Group. A successful transition requires enthusiastic support from leadership and clear communication. Firm leaders only get one opportunity to do it right. For many individuals, it is a disruptive and potentially traumatic event. It is a lot of work integrating two firms and there can be a lot of tension, uncertainty, and stress. In general, this is not as true for the AEC industry as it is for others, but employees may still fixate on what they cannot control. As with most of life, if you change how you react to M&A, it can be one of the most exciting times in your career, with possibilities for innovation, personal growth, and new opportunities. What is the ideal reaction? Should you continue working day-to-day and simply hope things work
See PHIL KEIL, page 12
THE ZWEIG LETTER May 8, 2017, ISSUE 1199
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