The Merger & Acquisition Leader's Playbook

CHAPTER 20People: Acquire, Develop, Encourage, Plan, Transition

The fourth component of the organizational playbook is people. When it comes to sorting people and roles on your team, work with a short-term, mid-term, and a long-term framework. Initially, determine whether any short-term moves should be made before or at the start, and any mid-term moves should be made in the first 100 days. Then, continue to develop teams over time.

Guest Contributor Ericka Stevens

As a young [human resources] HR professional, full of energy and optimism, I thought I had a solid plan to climb the corporate ladder. Approximately 5 years into this master plan, I was gifted 1 hour with our company's chief human resources officer. My hands were sweaty, knees were shaking as I sat across from the guru of HR. I nervously shared with him my career goals and how I aspired to lead people and culture for an organization. I asked him, “What can I do to accelerate my development and readiness for a strategic leadership role?”

He replied bluntly, “You need to walk into a fire.” He further explained the precise and intense conditions surrounding how diamonds are formed. Under the pressure of approximately 725,000 pounds per square inch, and at temperatures of 2,000 to 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit, a diamond will begin to form.

The entire process sounded extremely painful. I remember thinking to myself, ...