--- title: Your Approach to Onboarding Acquired Hires Can Make or Break Your M&A description: Cognician's CSO, Colin Sloman, explains how your onboarding approach can make or break your Merger or Acquisition and how Cognican can help. image: https://info.cognician.com/hubfs/blog_onboarding_m%26a_banner.jpg --- [![Activate Behavior Change](https://info.cognician.com/hubfs/logodark-1.svg "Activate Behavior Change")](https://www.cognician.com) - About Us - [Clients](https://info.cognician.com/clients) - [Security & Privacy](https://info.cognician.com/security-and-privacy) - [Our Team](https://info.cognician.com/our-team) - [Careers](https://info.cognician.com/cognician-careers) - [Contact Us](https://info.cognician.com/contact-us) - Our Approach - [Methodology](https://info.cognician.com/methodology) - [Features](https://info.cognician.com/features) - [Gamification](https://info.cognician.com/gamification) - Activation - [Activate Behavior Change](https://info.cognician.com/quest-collection) - [Activation Workshops](https://info.cognician.com/activation-workshops) - [Activation Courses](https://info.cognician.com/activation-foundations-certification-program) - Activate AI Adoption - [Copilot M365 Adoption](https://info.cognician.com/drive-microsoft-copilot-adoption) - [Copilot Agent Adoption](https://info.cognician.com/drive-ai-agent-adoption-with-cognicians-proven-change-platform) - [Copilot Chat Adoption](https://info.cognician.com/how-to-activate-copilot-adoption-and-empower-employees-to-work-smarter) - Resources - [Transformation Tactics](https://info.cognician.com/transformation-tactics) - [Research](https://info.cognician.com/resources) - [Thought Leadership](https://info.cognician.com/blog) - [Press](https://info.cognician.com/press-releases) - [Webinars](https://info.cognician.com/cognician-webinars) - [Log in](https://www.cognician.com/login) - [Book a Call](https://info.cognician.com/book-a-call) ![This image shows a dramatic upward view of a tightrope walker or high-wire artist balancing on a wire suspended between tall buildings in an urban setting. The perspective is from the ground looking up, with two skyscrapers framing the composition on either side against a cloudy sky. The silhouette of the person on the wire appears small against the vast scale of the buildings, creating a striking contrast. The image has a bluish-grey tonal quality that adds to its dramatic atmosphere.](https://info.cognician.com/hubfs/blog_onboarding_m%26a_banner.jpg) [Back to Blog](https://blog.cognician.com) # Your Approach to Onboarding Acquired Hires Can Make or Break Your M&A Colin Sloman 29 June 2022 - - [Talent Management](https://info.cognician.com/blog/topic/talent-management) [Change Management](https://info.cognician.com/blog/topic/change-management) - - *How you engage and onboard acquired hires can make or break a merger or acquisition. Colin Sloman discusses why and how Cognican can help.* --- Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) represent pivotal moments for organizational growth and future potential. While securing the deal is cause for celebration, the real challenge lies in successfully onboarding the 'new' acquired hires. Unfortunately, this process is often more complex than anticipated.  M&As significantly impact employees at all levels as they navigate merging into a cohesive unit. Despite seamless transactions, integrating two distinct cultures poses a considerable challenge, and lack of alignment can quickly derail the process. Unsurprisingly, estimates suggest that [70–90% of M&As](https://www.innosight.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/The-New-MA-Playbook.pdf) fall short of meeting expectations.  Failures often stem from incompatible cultures, management styles, poor motivation, loss of key talent, lack of communication, diminished trust, and uncertainty about organizational futures—all rooted in people-related challenges. Neglecting employee engagement—particularly among newly acquired employees—during transitions is a major reason for M&A failures.  This article discusses why it's essential to change your approach to onboarding acquired hires and how Cognician can help. ### Rethinking Onboarding for Acquired Hires Onboarding for acquired hires is fundamentally different from traditional onboarding and requires a distinct approach. Unlike new recruits who voluntarily join an organization, acquired hires do not choose the transaction. They enter with uncertainty rather than enthusiasm, lacking the agency they might have had in a regular job change.  M&As introduce stress as acquired hires ponder job security and integration. Even if roles are retained, employees often feel like newcomers, needing to rebuild trust and prove themselves, despite years of experience.  To address these challenges, it's crucial to engage acquired hires effectively, shifting their mindset to embrace their new roles with clarity and positivity. A well-crafted onboarding journey integrates them into the larger team, introduces company values, sets expectations, and reaffirms the employee value proposition.  #### How Can Cognician Help? Cognician's award-winning employee activation platform offers daily micro-challenges and reflections to cultivate new habits and behaviors. This platform provides a golden opportunity to engage acquired hires throughout the transition process.  #### Pre-Close (where legally permissible): - Understanding the Why: Communicate transaction reasons and offer feedback and reflection opportunities, allowing sentiment analysis to adjust messaging in real time. - Introduction to the Organization: Share your mission, values, and culture, providing access to key collateral through a central hub. - Introducing Leadership: Use our activation platform’s simulated 1:1 chat experience with personalized avatars, allowing hires to connect with new leaders and express concerns. - Focus on Positive Outlooks: Guide attention toward uplifting, forward-thinking content and encourage a growth mindset. ![220610 Cognician \_ Mockup for Blog Post](https://info.cognician.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Post%20Images/2022%20blog%20post%20images/220623-%20june%20blogs/220610%20Cognician%20_%20Mockup%20for%20Blog%20Post.png?width=860&name=220610%20Cognician%20_%20Mockup%20for%20Blog%20Post.png) #### Post-Transaction: - Welcome New Employees: Unlock a personalized learning path on day one, facilitated by engaging welcome messages and reflection opportunities via social learning. - Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Define success metrics aligned with the new company vision and strategy from the outset. - Establishing Networks: Facilitate connections with peers to enhance belonging within the new organization. - Highlight Growth Opportunities: Inform new employees about development opportunities and access. - Personalization at Scale: Maintain individual identity through customizable adaptive pathways and role-specific variables. ![220610 Cognician \_ Mockup for Blog Post (1)](https://info.cognician.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%20Post%20Images/2022%20blog%20post%20images/220623-%20june%20blogs/220610%20Cognician%20_%20Mockup%20for%20Blog%20Post%20(1).png?width=1920&name=220610%20Cognician%20_%20Mockup%20for%20Blog%20Post%20(1).png)   Cognician's employee activation platform transforms the onboarding experience, effectively managing the 'people' aspect of M&As by addressing common challenges and ensuring seamless integration.  ### Navigating a merger or acquisition? [Contact Cognician](https://info.cognician.com/book-a-call) to discover how our customized employee activation experiences can support your transition. Visit [info.cognician.com](https://info.cognician.com/) for more information.  ### Related Articles [![The Illusion of the Inspiring Workshop](https://info.cognician.com/hubfs/blog_banner_inspoiring%20workshop%20illusion%202.jpg)](https://info.cognician.com/blog/real-change-needs-more-than-an-inspiring-workshop) 21 January 2025 ## [The Illusion of the Inspiring Workshop](https://info.cognician.com/blog/real-change-needs-more-than-an-inspiring-workshop) Discover why the 'one-and-done' workshop approach might be holding back your organization's change initiatives. Drawing from real... 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[Talent Management](https://info.cognician.com/blog/topic/talent-management) [Change Management](https://info.cognician.com/blog/topic/change-management) [![Boosting Microsoft Copilot Adoption: Transformation through Practical Guidance and Community Engagement](https://info.cognician.com/hubfs/blog_image2.png)](https://info.cognician.com/blog/microsoft-copilot-adoption-guidance) 4 October 2024 ## [Boosting Microsoft Copilot Adoption: Transformation through Practical Guidance and Community Engagement](https://info.cognician.com/blog/microsoft-copilot-adoption-guidance) *Learn how to increase Copilot for Microsoft 365 adoption through practical guidance, real-world examples, and fostering a...* [Talent Management](https://info.cognician.com/blog/topic/talent-management) [Change Management](https://info.cognician.com/blog/topic/change-management) ![logolight (1)](https://info.cognician.com/hubfs/logolight%20(1).svg) Cognician’s founding belief is that people are capable of great things when their behavior is driven by meaningful conversations, great questions, powerful ideas, and deeply felt emotions. 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