L&D's Role in Facilitating a Successful Merger

Content

You may be familiar with this: Your company is going through a merger or acquisition and leaders call you in after they've signed the contracts, asking L&D to provide training courses for legacy employees.

You may be familiar with this: Your company is going through a merger or acquisition and leaders call you in after they've signed the contracts, asking L&D to provide training courses for legacy employees.

Content

In an ideal world, you would position the L&D team as a business partner early in the process, speaking the language of executives on metrics while raising issues through an L&D lens.

In an ideal world, you would position the L&D team as a business partner early in the process, speaking the language of executives on metrics while raising issues through an L&D lens.

Content

Either way, you can contribute; make the process less taxing for employees by leading with empathy, advises DJ Jaeger, author of "A Learning Leader's Guide to Mergers."

Either way, you can contribute; make the process less taxing for employees by leading with empathy, advises DJ Jaeger, author of "A Learning Leader's Guide to Mergers."

Content

As you prepare training and development materials:

As you prepare training and development materials:

Content

Acknowledge the experience. Relay what you know and admit what you don't know about what is changing.

Acknowledge the experience. Relay what you know and admit what you don't know about what is changing.

Content

Create safe learning spaces. "Encourage psychological safety through tone, format, and delivery," Jaeger writes.

Create safe learning spaces. "Encourage psychological safety through tone, format, and delivery," Jaeger writes.

Content

Infuse warmth into content. Consider incorporating a short video from a senior leader; calling out an achievement; or sharing a "here's what you can expect" checklist, all of which can ease staff anxiety.

Infuse warmth into content. Consider incorporating a short video from a senior leader; calling out an achievement; or sharing a "here's what you can expect" checklist, all of which can ease staff anxiety.

Content

Pace learning. Where feasible, space out learning requirements and offer flexibility. Allow time for individuals to reflect and connect with familiar faces as well as new ones.

Pace learning. Where feasible, space out learning requirements and offer flexibility. Allow time for individuals to reflect and connect with familiar faces as well as new ones.

Content

While leaders may initiate a merger or acquisition to take advantage of new market opportunities, consolidate resources, or gain a competitive advantage, in the end, it's about people. Learning leaders' contribution is essential because they are the "architects of continuity, culture, and capability," writes Jaeger.

While leaders may initiate a merger or acquisition to take advantage of new market opportunities, consolidate resources, or gain a competitive advantage, in the end, it's about people. Learning leaders' contribution is essential because they are the "architects of continuity, culture, and capability," writes Jaeger.

Content

These tips were adapted from the December 2025 issue of TD at Work. Learn more at td.org/TDatWork.

These tips were adapted from the December 2025 issue of TD at Work. Learn more at td.org/TDatWork.