- Communication is absolutely the key to successful change
Throughout the ordeal between Genzyme and Sanofi, the two CEOs communicated mainly through advisors. They avoided direct communication for months. It was only when the two CEOs began direct communication that the climate improved and negotiations became fruitful. It is especially critical during change for senior management to communicate directly with employees. Emails and proclamations from HR or Marketing will do nothing to build a bridge between the architects of change and those who must implement and live with change. Your communication plan must be developed BEFORE you announce change – how you begin the change initiative sets the tone. Open, honest communication must continue through out the initiative from top down and bottom up. I can’t stress enough how vital communication is to building and sustaining the trust required for change to succeed.
The negotiations are over and Sanofi will soon swallow Genzyme and the real change work will begin. Given their vastly different cultures, both companies have a very diffcult time ahead with no assurances that the gains they hoped to achieve through the buyout will ever be realized. When you and your company are faced with change, look around at other who have weathered change and search for the lessons that will ease your path to successful change.
"The more things change, the more they stay the same".
Heard this before? Well, if you want to be sure that change at your organizaiton is real change, lasting change contact Catalytic Management early - put our experts to work partnering with you to strategize, plan and impelment successful change.
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