Your Company: The Next Generation

“Whenever you have a company come in and buy you, promising ‘We’re not going to change anything; don’t worry, life is good,’ you have to wonder if it’s true,” Kuperman says. “You have a time element in there that, if you do not believe what you’re being told, you’re not focused on the game.”

During a succession, managers must communicate with their staff to encourage continued focus on the core business. “You have to be able to deal with people on your team and say, ‘Here is the message. I believe the message. Let’s not take our eyes off the ball.’”