Making a success of the first milestone in a merger is crucial, as it sets the “tone” for the first few months: what do employees who are meeting for the first time need? How do you build a collective mindset? Should we adopt a more directive or participative style? What’s the right balance between operational information, strategic content, and cultural aspects?

On November 4, 2020, we accompanied the first team seminar of the Centre National de la Musique (CNM), the result of the merger of 5 organizations. The establishment’s President, Jean-Philippe Thiellay, had indeed wanted to organize a seminar bringing together all the teams as soon as possible, in order to install a collective dynamic from the outset.

Even if, instead of holding it “face-to-face” in the future premises as planned, the second confinement meant that the 100 employees had to meet remotely.