Yesterday I had the privilege of leading a practice that had been thru a M-erger last year (but obviously still NOT thru it and reeling from it). It was a privilege b/c this is a team of leaders that helps people who are HIV-positive in Ohio. It’s not a casual job you take just for the paycheck. These folks are unsung heros, and they have a crazy big dream.
Amid a little Johnny Cash “I don’t believe you” and a little Gettysburg rebellion there were plenty of tears and blunt honesty. There were several engaged 28s in the room — and a few disengaged 55s –but mostly a LOT of disengaged 17s. More than I’d ever seen in ANY practice.
They mostly wanted to TALK. When we went through the Universal 5 Big Fears — it was clear they had all of them. Some felt the merger had killed them. They were still afraid of the outsiders. The future was still not clear. Chaos has been abounding. And mostly, they all felt insignificant — like they didn’t matter anymore.
The ‘acquired’ right-brained leader was there. The ‘acquiring’ left-brained leader wasn’t — and everybody wanted to know why not…
Which brings us to the reason why most “mergers” don’t work. It’s NOT because they don’t “make sense” — I didn’t hear any phrase used more yesterday –“the merger DOES make sense”…
What DOESN’T make sense is why they DO fail or take a lot longer than necessary to succeed. Which is because leaders underestimate the FEAR that needs to be overcome and the amount of TIME it takes for a team to become ONE.
Thinking about the ‘M’ word for your company? For a couple divisions? offices? departments?
Then remember that…
“Leaders are believers” — they will need to SEE you and your BELIEF and hear your VISION over & over — long after you are tired of sharing it. AND….
“Leaders are CONNECTORS” — do NOT make the mistake of leaving your team disconnected, They need TEAM PRACTICE more than ever to overcome their 5 big FEARS with their 5 Big Needs:
Their need for SECURITY.
Their need for COMMUNITY.
Their need for CLARITY.
Their need for ORDER.
Their need for SIGNIFICANCE.
I’ve never led a practice that was so overdue. Do NOT leave your team(s) ALONE to figure it out on their own.
“Together we improve.”
BUILT TO LEAD 
Back to back magic from Gurue. Great work. It’s magic when you tie your clients mess to the framework and show them their mistake and the remedy to get tracking. Remember, most of them will need more reminders than Y.O.U. think. Good work, Gurue…