10 Guidelines for Effective Integration Teams

1. Understand the journey Psychological shockwaves Three phases of transition Staggered experiences

2. Manage expectations… yours and theirs Be realistic about the challenge Delegate to your direct reports Discuss the demands of transition with your family and friends

3. Learn to survive in no-man’s land You won’t fit well in either the present or the future The old way won’t feel right, but the new way won’t work yet Find ways to stay connected

4. Act like a consultant Get on the balcony to look at issues Don’t take positions; discuss interests

5. Adopt and go Understand how you do it and how they do it Don’t waste time arguing about whose way is the best way Pick a way that will be least disruptive… and go!

6. Don’t roll over and play dead Your ideas matter Raise genuinely important differentiators to the surface first Pick your battles carefully

7. Add positive energy to the process Transition is all about energy management When energy is depleted, you’re responsible for replenishment Without energy the transition process grinds to a halt

8. Consider the experience a “learning laboratory” Consciously select areas where you want to personally develop as you go through this experience Without specific goals you’ll just survive, not thrive There’s a lot of permission to “experiment” with new skills

9. Protect confidentiality You’ve heard it before…but it’s worth repeating Don’t leave confidential documents in meeting rooms, on copiers, or open on your desk Be extremely careful about forwarding emails

10. Respect each other and the process Realize that there are different “realities” and respect the differences in perspective Focus on the problem, not the person Respect the fact that this opportunity is greater than any of our individual needs

Guidelines for Effective Transition Teams Understand the journey Manage expectations… yours and theirs Learn to survive in no-man’s land Act like a consultant Adopt and go Don’t roll over and play dead Add positive energy to the process Consider the experience a “living laboratory” for learning Protect confidentiality Respect each other and the process