Surviving and Thriving After a Merger

Beverly Flaxington

Beverly Flaxington is a practice management consultant. She answers questions from advisors facing human resource issues. To submit yours, email us here.

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Dear Bev,

We have recently merged with another firm. I had a leadership role in our former firm and am finding myself sidelined in our new situation. There is another individual in the role that I held (chief operating officer) but she is much younger than I am and has not weathered as many situations. She could learn from me but I’m cut out of meetings and left to figure out how to invent a new role. What can I do to ingratiate myself, make myself useful, participate more and let her know I am not going to challenge her authority but I would like to make a contribution? It’s a tricky situation because I am the odd-man out but I want to figure out a way to provide value and be on the “in.”

E.P.

Dear E.P.,

Mergers and acquisitions are very tricky. Firms spend a great deal of time focusing on the financial deal, but not enough time figuring out “the human element” and how everyone will fit under a new culture. You are clearly caught in this where there wasn’t a defined role, and you are trying to find a place to make a difference.

I commend your attitude. Instead of being negative about your situation you are seeking ways to contribute and be useful. Unfortunately it’s not uncommon for someone in your situation to be resentful so the fact that you are keeping an upbeat and positive outlook is great.

There are a few things you can do, and many of these suggestions will depend on what kind of culture you have entered. I’m always careful to make blanket statements unless I know more about the leadership, the philosophy, and the culture so please review these ideas with that in mind. Ultimately, you will need to decide what you can do to fit in to your new world: