Episode 21: Thriving through transition with Jennifer Fondrevay

Quick. Your company is about to be bought. Or merged. Or otherwise smashed together with a group of strangers. What’s your first thought? Chances are you’re not jumping up and down with glee. There may be stomping and kicking, however. Our guest today on the DesuckifyWork™ Podcast helps companies avoid the common pitfalls of mergers, acquisitions and large-scale transitions. Jennifer Fondrevay is a consultant, author and has been called the Brené Brown of M&A. With good reason.She helps leaders see the value in a people-first transition strategy. Not just because it’s the right thing to do (it is) but also because it’s the smart thing to do, if you care about the success of the transition. Did we mention that 70-90% of mergers and acquisitions fail? Perhaps that will wake up a few folks. When you do transitions right, they don’t lead to kicking and screaming. They lead to transparency, understanding and the ability to see new possibilities. We talk about that and so much more during the show. We had particular fun diving into the 10 personas that show up when faced with the uncertainty of a big transition. From the Dominatrix to the Former Rock Star to the Know-it-All and Know-Nothing, you’ll recognize each of them from past experience. You may even recognize a few in yourself. And that’s okay. We’re all human. And if we recognize that, we’re already a long way towards creating a better experience next time a big shake up comes our way. This is Jennifer’s superpower. Bringing humanity into this process so we cannot just survive it, but thrive in it. Sounds pretty desuckified if you ask me. But don’t ask me. Ask Jennifer. She rocks. Take a listen and see for yourself. You can follow Jennifer on LinkedIn and check out her site at jenniferjfondrevay.com. You should also check out her book, Now What?: A Survival Guide for Thriving Through Mergers & Acquisitions. It’s a delightfully human take on a frequently inhumane topic. Speaking of delight, I think my website if pretty groovy too. Check it out at thepuddingfactory.net. If you’d like to learn more about the work I do, please visit https://calendly.com/teejaybee/30-minute-whattheheck to set up a free half-hour “what the heck is coaching all about” session. Hope to hear from you soon. Bye, everyone!#desuckifyworkpodcast #desuckifywork #mergersandacquisitions #transitions #coaching #leadership  Get full access to DesuckifyWork® at tjbennett.substack.com/subscribe