Beware of the merger integration do-gooders!! 

Chances are you have a few of these people scattered across the management ranks.  I’m talking about soft-hearted managers, those misguided souls who seem to think you can run an effective merger integration without upsetting anyone.  These are the folks who would sacrifice integration success in order not to disturb the organizational peace.  They’re nice people and generally well intentioned.  But here’s the irony:  Theirs is the cruelest approach.

Merging two companies works best when you show deep respect for certain ground rules.  When I say “works best,” I mean these ground rules represent the most caring and benevolent way of dealing with employees, just as they offer the most promising route to merger success.

Real quickly, here are the “7 secrets:”

1. Promise change.  (Don’t seek to reassure people by insisting that it will continue to be business as usual.  That’s BS, even if you believe it to be true.)
2. Make the tough decisions.  (And...