The Leadership Solution

10.3. Communication Policy or Guidelines

Two large companies merged. The acquiring company was relatively tight-lipped. Its communication philosophy was conservative. The acquired company had always shared a lot of information among its people. The two philosophies clashed during the merger. The acquirer remained close to the vest with information. The open company wanted to share information it had traditionally shared with its people. "Everything, every sentence, is debated, edited, and debated again," the head of communication remarked. "Then the two companies have to come together and discuss if we're going to say anything and if we are what it's going to be. You know who wins? The lawyers. We go through this with everything. It's a communications ...