Communication is Key

“Coming together is a beginning.
Keeping together is progress.
Working together is success.”

Henry Ford,
American Industrialist

Merging in any sense of the word always occurs with its own set of bumps, obstacles and difficulties. But in business, the adjustment curve cannot be compared to those moments of learning to deal with a new spouse’s inability to part with that musty, old chair you were certain would have been tossed once true love was declared. There is something else in the eyes of the newly-acquired employee—something more akin to the spouse who remains true, and then regardless of his or her hard work still faces uncertainty and abandonment.

While these corporate changes may be filled with promise, that unmistakable look in the acquired employees’ eyes is fear—fear about their employment status, their retirement and benefits packages. Fear that their loyalty after so many years of service was given in vain. Fear about their future.

When the ink hits the paper, the human resources department must be poised to answer questions. Open communication brings understanding, and with that understanding, the acquired employee will gain trust and eventually, allegiance.

On a lighter note, I would like to congratulate the staff of BFL&S on winning the Apex Publication Award of Excellence for Best Redesign and Best Feature Writing for our 2006 State of the
Industry Report. Each month, we work hard to bring our readership the best publication in the industry, and I am thrilled that our team could be recognized for its outstanding achievement.

Nichole Stella
Editorial Director
nstella@napco.com