When M&A decisions affect livelihoods and relationships, can they ever be purely rational? In data-driven environments, how much should leaders trust their gut instinct? If no decision is perfect, how do leaders balance intuition with accountability?
In this podcast episode, Jennifer Froemel and Daniel King discuss M&A work and the importance of listening to gut instincts.
Meet Daniel King
Daniel King is Co-Founder of Fireside Strategic and a former M&A lawyer turned executive coach and growth strategist. He has advised CEOs, investors, and leadership teams on scaling businesses through a blend of strategic rigor and human-centered leadership. His work focuses on helping organizations grow sustainably while building strong cultures that support long-term success.
Visit Fireside Strategic and connect on LinkedIn.
In This Podcast:
- The impacts of mergers and acquisitions
- It’s more than business: it’s people and feeling
- Where intuition starts
The impacts of mergers and acquisitions
While business is business, the undercurrent of these actions can carry a great deal of emotion.
M&A’s are processes by which sometimes two or sometimes even more than two parties are trying to align on all of the terms of a transaction, and it’s a transaction that for one or both parties is exceptionally important.
Daniel King
Often with mergers and acquisitions, there is a lot of money on the line, people’s jobs hang in the balance, not to mention the care of many trusting patients.
Therefore, it becomes clear that there is an emotional weight present behind these decisions.
How different people think about each other’s roles, and how they relate to one another, is all magnified energetically in the middle of an M&A journey.
Daniel King
Often with mergers and acquisitions, there is a lot of money on the line, people’s jobs hang in the balance, not to mention the care of many trusting patients.
Therefore, it becomes clear that there is an emotional weight present behind these decisions.
How different people think about each other’s roles, and how they relate to one another, is all magnified energetically in the middle of an M&A journey.
Daniel King
It’s more than business: it’s people and feeling
When it comes to these crucial business decisions, Daniel explains how he has always benefitted from trusting his body and his inner sense: the gut instinct.
There’s a sense you get of whether … everything’s flowing in what you’re doing. So, I can use the term, “It feels right, or it doesn’t.” For every decision that comes up, some of the decisions we make, some of the decisions other stakeholders will influence us or even make it in ways that we can’t combat … In any of those scenarios, I do feel … first, and gather data afterwards.
Daniel King
While Daniel admits that it is unconventional, he makes use of his gut instinct often in business.
He will still always look at the data, information, and material at hand, but he integrates his gut instinct to get a feel of whether this is moving in the right direction, or not.
Feeling and intuition really matter, I think, that guides my conscience … in addition to that, there are no perfect decisions here … As a doer, the burdens are heavier, and I see that there are tradeoffs everywhere … In this seat, I can see how every single decision that matters has tradeoffs, and there is no perfect decision.
Daniel King
This process, of using his gut instinct, has given Daniel grace, both for himself and for others.
He knows now from his experience that, essentially, everyone is doing the best that they can with what they have, and that there is never going to be a perfect solution. Only one that works the best in the given scenario.
Where intuition starts
For Daniel King, his intuition starts in his body and is very much a felt sense.
Dan explains that a lot of his emotion sits within his center, particularly his stomach, and he now knows that it is a great “reader” of the situations before him.
It gathers intuitive data for me … and I’m increasingly grateful for that.
Daniel King
Having a willingness to look at all the parts of you, and bring forward your innate skills into the work that you do, allows you to take full advantage of your value and bring so much more to the table.
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ABOUT THE FEAR OF CHANGE PODCAST
Change can be scary, but it doesn’t have to be. The Fear of Change podcast is all about helping you embrace change and live a more fulfilling life. Hosted by Jennifer Froemel, LCPC, a therapist with nearly 30 years of experience, we cover topics like mental wellness, holistic health, and improving relationships.
Jennifer’s down-to-earth approach makes it easy to understand why we fear change and how to move past those fears. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, relationship issues, or just feeling stuck, there’s something here for you.
