Leadership Change: Here's How to Make It as Painless as Possible

The new CEO should also spend significant time with senior management to “learn their management styles, gain perspective on what’s working and not in their departments, get to know what motivates them personally and professionally,” Nardizzi says.

“More time should initially be spent asking than telling. If you don’t understand the how and why things are working now, you’ll lack the buy-in and support you’ll need to affect positive change,” he adds.