News and Views: Survive a Merger

03/06/07

You don’t have to be the size of Compaq and Hewlett-Packard to face the ordeal of a merger. And if you’re with the company being acquired by another, says John Challenger of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, you’d better be on your toes.

According to Challenger, you can take steps to protect yourself and your fellow employees if you keep a few things in mind:

Never say, “This is how we do things.” The acquiring company doesn’t care how you do things. Adapt yourself, instead, to how it does things.

Be a “yes” man or woman. These are the survivors, according to Challenger. You want to project a can-do, team-oriented attitude.

Be a leader. “A leader,” says Challenger, “helps demoralized coworkers cope—even excel—in the new environment.” To that end, be a good role model by becoming more visible and useful: Attend all the meetings and functions you can, and help out on any project.