Blending Cultures in a Merger

Recent studies have shown that close to 75% of mergers fail to achieve their expected results, and a major reason for that failure is the clash of cultures. There is seldom a merger of equals. One culture usually dominates. When a merger occurs, employees often feel fear, uncertainty, skepticism, resentment, and/or disillusionment. It is critically important for leaders in both organizations to recognize those feelings and address them through open communication of goals, expectations, and vision for the future. It is also important to recognize that rather than trying to integrate the two cultures, it is more beneficial to take the best from both cultures and create a new culture. The Company Psychologist can assist leaders in identifying the strengths of both cultures, communicate effectively, and avoid an “us versus them” mentality.