You're going through a merger. What now? How do you communicate all this information? When a merger or acquisition occurs in your company, it's up to you to ensure that your employees don't feel like they're being left behind. You want them to understand where the organization is heading and how they fit into its future.
One of the easiest formats to communicate mergers quickly is through video. Here are some helpful tips we've learned throughout the years working with some of the brightest in the M&A space.
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
4 Key Lessons in Communication
Using Video to Efficiently Communicate the Merger’s Direction and Vision Quickly
The first step in a merger is to quickly communicate the merger’s direction and vision internally. Doing this addresses any fact from fiction and helps forge success for the newly combined organizations.
One of the easiest and most effective ways to communicate the announcement internally is through video production. A great example of this was with a recent client that was being acquired by KKR. The founder wanted to communicate a message of unity, strength, confidence and certainty. We worked with CyrusOne to create a message around One Company. One Team. One Purpose. Take a look:
Creating a video series can efficiently convey the organization’s future vision and strategy to set the foundation of momentum and enthusiasm for the merger.
If you’d like to see other M&A video examples, such as client testimonials, check our some case studies HERE.
Create an Open, Transparent Environment.
Using video to communicate key strategies with your team creates an open, transparent environment in which people feel comfortable asking questions and sharing their concerns. If there’s anything you don’t want them knowing about the merger, don’t hide it from them! In your video, take the opportunity to:
1 – Communicate the message that the merger will be a positive thing for your organization–that it will bring new opportunities and resources that will benefit everyone involved.
2 – Communicate your vision for how things will change once everything has settled down after the merger has been completed (if possible). And let them know what changes have already taken place so far.
Creating a video series can efficiently convey the organization’s future vision and strategy to set the foundation of momentum and enthusiasm for the merger.
If you’d like to see other M&A video examples, such as client testimonials, check our some case studies HERE.
Create an Open, Transparent Environment.
Using video to communicate key strategies with your team creates an open, transparent environment in which people feel comfortable asking questions and sharing their concerns. If there’s anything you don’t want them knowing about the merger, don’t hide it from them! In your video, take the opportunity to:
1 – Communicate the message that the merger will be a positive thing for your organization–that it will bring new opportunities and resources that will benefit everyone involved.
2 – Communicate your vision for how things will change once everything has settled down after the merger has been completed (if possible). And let them know what changes have already taken place so far.
You will also need to be transparent about the changes that are coming. This can be challenging, but it’s essential to keep your employees informed and in the loop.
You should let them know what to expect, so they have time for preparation and adjustment. It also helps them feel like they have a say in how things go down when big changes are happening at work.
For example: “We’re going through a merger with another company; there will be some restructuring over the next few months as we merge together into one team.”
Plan for Talent Retention and Attraction.
In order to ensure that your organization is prepared for a merger, it’s important to have the right message communicated. It’s crucial for reducing employee anxiety, boosting morale and retaining top talent. Below are examples of our team working with CyrusOne before, during and after their acquisition by KKR. You can also read the case study HERE.
You will also need to be transparent about the changes that are coming. This can be challenging, but it’s essential to keep your employees informed and in the loop.
You should let them know what to expect, so they have time for preparation and adjustment. It also helps them feel like they have a say in how things go down when big changes are happening at work.
For example: “We’re going through a merger with another company; there will be some restructuring over the next few months as we merge together into one team.”
Plan for Talent Retention and Attraction.
In order to ensure that your organization is prepared for a merger, it’s important to have the right message communicated. It’s crucial for reducing employee anxiety, boosting morale and retaining top talent. Below are examples of our team working with CyrusOne before, during and after their acquisition by KKR. You can also read the case study HERE.
Take the opportunity to address the organization’s future vision and strategy to key stakeholders – both internal and external. This will allow employees at all levels of your company structure an opportunity to see how they fit into this new business model being created by the merger or acquisition (M&A).
Conclusion
Mergers and acquisitions are an important period for communication and video production can be an efficient method to communicate key initiatives and strategies to your employees. Cardboard Spaceship’s team has in-depth knowledge and experience helping companies communicate M&A activities through a visual narrative.
Remember that the most important thing is to keep your employees informed and engaged. If they feel like they have an impact on the future of their organization, they’ll be more likely to stay with it through thick and thin.
Take the opportunity to address the organization’s future vision and strategy to key stakeholders – both internal and external. This will allow employees at all levels of your company structure an opportunity to see how they fit into this new business model being created by the merger or acquisition (M&A).
Conclusion
Mergers and acquisitions are an important period for communication and video production can be an efficient method to communicate key initiatives and strategies to your employees. Cardboard Spaceship’s team has in-depth knowledge and experience helping companies communicate M&A activities through a visual narrative.
Remember that the most important thing is to keep your employees informed and engaged. If they feel like they have an impact on the future of their organization, they’ll be more likely to stay with it through thick and thin.
