Stephen Patscot’s Post

Overlooking middle managers in M&A can derail an integration - involve them early for a smoother transition and business continuity. Yesterday I virtually listened to a panel session with Laura Queen, EdD, Jennifer J. Fondrevay, and  Brendan McElroy, sharing their thoughts on the difference the middle manager makes in M&A, as part of the HR M&A Roundtable 2024 Spring conference. Here are my key takeaways from the conversation: 1. During diligence, ask "Who is most critical to business continuity?" to identify the key middle managers and individual contributors that need to be brought into the integration process early. Their operational knowledge is invaluable for a smooth transition. I like the way this question is phrased versus something like: “Who are your most valuable players?” or judging purely based on employee title and tenure. 2. Plan out a comprehensive communication strategy and materials well in advance of the acquisition announcement. This allows you to intentionally involve middle managers from both sides either before or within 24 hours of announcement. This makes middle managers feel trusted and can provide them with information like the deal rationale, talking points, and a platform to get their questions answered. It also enables them to support a positive outlook and answer questions from their teams around the acquisition announcement. 3. Establish a frequent cadence of communication with acquired employees starting post-announcement, even if you don't have major updates. Share a weekly update addressing anticipated questions/concerns and provide a feedback loop. Consistent communication keeps employees informed, reduces stress related to uncertainty, and buys time for integration planning. I also loved all the examples shared by attendees in the chat which supported concepts Jennifer and Laura were covering. Overall a valuable topic, that was well presented!

Breaking news! 🚨 Paycor just won 5 TITAN Business Awards for outstanding HR solutions. As the name says, these awards recognize titans of industry for their innovation and leadership. If you'd like to learn more about the following topics, reach out to me to schedule time for review: · Labor Forecasting & Paycor Time · Paycor’s Talent Management Suite · Paycor HR · Paycor Analytics · The COR Leadership Framework & Paycor Paths So proud to be part of this winning team!!

Whether you are a HR professional, business owner or someone who has HR responsibilities, this conference has valuable information for you! You know it’s a great conference when you struggle to figure out which break out sessions to attend because they are all so good! Bring your entire team and y’all can conquer and divide😁

Fantastic article! ____________________ A Black male with over 20 years of experience as a DEI professional shared that he had finally found an organization striving to integrate DEI into all areas. “We have this blending where the objectives get established, but they are shared objectives because they get baked into my colleagues’ objectives just like they get baked into mine,” he said. “That’s my point about making sure that you’ve got it woven into the corporate fabric, the critical HR systems, whether it be compensation, whether it be recruiting, whether it be just the internal staffing that goes on, whether it be performance reviews. You’ve got to make sure that it’s baked in so that the organization is paying attention.” https://lnkd.in/euHpz_Tq

The SHRM Executive Network provides me with a network of HR executives and engagement events that are tackling the challenges and opportunities of the NextGen workplace today! What are you doing to grow your professional network? I'd love to hear.

I opened up my calendar to talk to HR folks and I am so glad I did. I spoke to 8 HR people at various levels and industries and they all had 5 things in common: 👉 They truly value the work they do; 👉 HR isn't always recognized by leadership; 👉 HR BP is a role that should come with coaching; 👉 HR folks never fail to support each other when sh!t gets tough; 👉 Small mistakes feel loud and work well done can often go unnoticed. That last one got me in my feels because I have experienced that. This shout out is for the HR folks riding the grind every day and creating environments that people can thrive in and where things 'just happen". 👁 I see you 🙏 I value you 💪 HRBPs are hard as nails! ----------------- If you are in HR and want support then feel welcomed to reach out!

Happy HR Professionals Day! 🌟 My first HR role was as an employment specialist at Seton Hall University, under the leadership of Jane Jacobs. 🙌 She gave me my first shot in the field after graduating and interviewing for two years 😥. She didn't care that I had minimal to no experience. And I am eternally grateful for that. I have since encountered, been mentored, and supported many inspiring HR and non-HR leaders in healthcare, all dedicated to doing remarkable work. Growing my network and meeting wonderful HR professionals has been an amazing journey. I have learned so much about my leadership identity and how to support others. My core group of HR leaders keeps me motivated and supported. Let's embrace a core principle today as we celebrate ourselves and our entire community: opening doors for HR professionals. Encourage the next generation of HR leaders, and avoid gatekeeping our field 👏 To extend opportunities, coaching, mentoring, and guidance to those on the rise is part of our mission, not to keep our field exclusive. Offer assistance to an aspiring HR professional. Let's be known as a profession that nurtures and develops its people every day, just like we preach to the leaders we support. 💪 #HRProfessionalsDay #HRCommunity #MentorshipMatters #GrowTogether 🌱 Also, let's take it a step further. Let's lean into our roles as advisors and business partners. To truly elevate HR, we must fully understand the businesses we support and become the bridge between the organization and its people. We are the architects of a workplace where people are interwoven into every business decision. . 💪 #HRProfessionalsDay #HRCommunity #BetheLeader #BusinessPartnership #PeopleFirst 🌱

Lets celebrate National HR Professionals Day by celebrating fellow HR leaders! 🙌 As HR Professionals its important for us to constantly remind ourselves that serving our people is our focus and employees needs come first 💯 Sometimes serving means not getting positive feedback, sometimes it means tough conversations, sometimes it even means not getting recognition for all those hours and hard work 😰 In a way, being selfless can be the sign of an amazing HR leader, yet we need to also foster a community for ourselves --- joining other HR leaders in communion about our challenges, and finding ways to unload those burdens many of us in HR carry so we can in turn put our best foot forward and give the most amazing HR experience to our teams 💕 Reliance on your fellow HR Leaders is a MUST for us in the HR World 🌎 Its been such an inspiration to work alongside some of the most empathetic and intelligent HR Leaders, leaders who have shown me the path to lead as an HR Professional is paved with empathy and compassion ❤️ Brigitte Davis Stacey Copeland Ashley Nelson Alma Wiseman to name a few! 👏 👏 👏 This is a message to celebrate all those HR Leaders out there who continue to put their people first and foster a communal environment to share and grow together! 🌱 #hr #hrcommunity #humanresources #hrappreciation #nationalhrprofessionalday #empathy #hrleaders