How important are communication, honesty, trust and transparency to ensure a smooth transition?
Wisniewski: I think communication is the most critical factor, both in leading people and in giving them the comfort that it’s going to be a smooth transition. Leadership requires that you communicate information that is necessary, not everything. The individuals transitioning need to speak about everything very openly: What are you thinking here; what is your approach? You have to be willing to put everything on the table with each other. It’s very much a learning experience. As you go through the hard decisions, you ask what the other person would do. Sometimes it’s better if your perspectives are unique, because then you’re able to see both sides of a decision and you can evaluate, ‘Do we continue the way we’ve been doing it, or do we evolve it into something else?’ Kitrosser: If you don’t trust each other explicitly, it’s not going to be a smooth process. You’re not going to agree on everything, but when you disagree, you have to know why you disagree and you have to respect each o
