Solution Saturday: How to Prevent Cynicism
Hi Dan,
My organization is going through a very large merger with a lot of unknowns in there. Do you have advice on preventing employee cynicism?
I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic!
Concerned about cynicism
Dear Concerned,
It doesn’t make it feel any easier, but your situation is quite common these days. I coach leaders who are navigating the turbulence of mergers all the time. First, lets think about the big picture.
Big picture:
Disruption is opportunity when you press into the future rather than cling to the past.
The advantage of disruption is you find the courage to explore new opportunities. People look for new ways to add value, new jobs outside the company, and clarify their role inside the company. It’s good to do all three.
Disruption frees us to explore opportunities and develop ourselves. Lets turn our attention to preventing cynicism.
Employee cynicism:
Employee cynicism is justified.
Companies cause cynicism when they ask the wrong question. “How can we get the most out of our employees?” This question inspires resistance. A better question is, “How can we inspire our team members to bring their best to current opportunities?”
Organizations that routinely use layoffs to cut costs should expect cynicism from the workforce. Telling people to not be skeptical and pessimistic won’t help.
Prevent or promote:
Choose to promote something positive rather than prevent something negative.
You might choose to promote enlightened self-interest rather than working to prevent cynicism. It’s one thing to say, “Don’t be cynical. Give the merger a chance.” It’s another thing to ask, “How might you serve yourself well during the merger?”
Cynicism justifies self sabotage. Good employees become foot draggers, for example.
What might you promote?
- Understanding. It’s normal to feel stress during mergers.
- Transparency. Some secrecy is necessary during mergers. Over-communicate everything that can be ethically shared.
- Candor. Tell the truth. If you don’t know. You don’t know.
- Action. Find something you can do. Mergers make us feel helpless.
Dealing with helplessness:
Deal with helplessness by finding something to do. Helplessness comes out as anger, distrust, and/or giving up.
People complain and gossip when they feel helpless. Listen to concerns. Turn conversations to opportunities. You might say, “I hear what you’re saying. What might we do about it?” The first response to this question is often, “Nothing.” That makes everyone feel even more helpless.
Questions that turn toward action:
- What might we do to support each other?
- What will serve you well during the merger? Follow up with, “How will that serve you well?”
- What does bringing your best self to this situation look like?
Thank you for your email. You have my best wishes for success during and after the merger.
Dan
What suggestions do you have for Concerned About Cynicism?
Dan over the years I was both on the buying
And selling side of mergers. Some thoughts:
1. There are no Mergers of equals. Some one is the buyer and on top of the deal and the resulting changes that come. This is reality regardless of what the press releases say
2. Initially almost no one knows what will happen so try not to get upset by all the rumors and noise. It will become clearer with time
3. The most important advice I can give is to try to be one of the first on your side of the deal to meet and get to know the other side. In my book I call this crossing the bridge to greet the others regardless of who is the real buyer or seller. It is the most critical if your side is the seller!
Great topic!
Brad
Brad James , author The Business Zoo
Thanks Brad. You experience is so valuable here. Your #3 makes loads of sense. I wonder about the issue of looking like a brown-noser. What suggestions do you have when connecting with the “other side.”
Dan some things to remember when you are one of the first to cross the bridge to meet the other side are:
1. In the end, nothing will be a secret. So initially you can share simple things like how you are organized and your firm’s history. Or fun things like a unique benefit plan (we had a clothing allowance for managers and sales people)
2. Share much of what you learned back with your Team since everyone is very curious about the Other side
3. It is less about what you share than the effort you make to cross the bridge. By the way sometimes you have to walk to the middle and beyond more than once to have the other person join you.
Brad
Brilliant! I particularly enjoy the importance of sharing what you learn. Secrets create cynicism.
Once again, a very good post, Dan. Thank you. The observation that “Disruption is opportunity when you press into the future rather than cling to the past” reminds us that few people actually view a crisis/challenge/disruption as an opportunity. Typically, most view it as a situation that begs the question, “Who is doing this to me?” which then demands some sort of a reaction. I always felt this was a missing (and often well hidden) attribute that I should be on the lookout for when hiring, working with, retaining, and/or promoting people. This attribute is, however, something valuable that can be caught and can be taught, but is more often missed than noticed (http://wp.me/p2k440-ju). Thank you for your influential posts. Keep them coming.
Thanks Jim. Rather than “who is doing this to me?” we might ask. What might I learn, Where might this take me? How might I add value or solve something? Who does this situation call me to become?
Your question in the blog post you link to is forward-facing and useful. “What can I make of this opportunity,”
Learn to roll with the purchase.
We have no control on mergers, other than to pray we have a place to fit in.
We often times don’t control our destiny when you have chosen work for others!