After an acquisition, embrace change

Q: After our small company was acquired by a large corporation, everything seemed to change. As the office manager, I have always taken care of administrative duties like payroll, personnel, meeting planning and so forth. But ever since the acquisition, things that should be handled by me are now being sent to my new manager.

My boss doesn’t want me to bother him with “secretarial” questions, and I have no communication with the corporate office, so I never know what’s going on. When employees come to me for answers, I have no idea what to tell them. I feel as though I’m letting them down. How am I supposed to handle this?

A: Unfortunately, your dilemma is not unusual. Confusion often reigns after an acquisition, especially one that is not well-planned. Preparing for chaos is probably better than anticipating a smooth transition as unrealistic expectations will only increase your frustration.

You must also be realistic about the issues going to your boss you feel “should be handled by you.” There are no “shoulds” in this new landscape. Despite being in the same job, you have actually joined a new company, so your role may very well be revised.

To begin reducing the uncertainty, create a detailed list of your previous duties, then ask your manager which will continue and which are likely to change. To avoid peppering him with unwelcome questions, request a regular meeting time to discuss work issues. Finally, try to identify some helpful corporate contacts.

During this post-acquisition phase, you should focus on defining responsibilities, clarifying expectations and developing relationships.