We are preparing to launch our sale process in six months. When and how do we share this news with our executive leadership team without creating panic or causing them to lose focus on their quarterly Rocks?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Telling your executive leadership team that you are planning to sell the business is a high-stakes moment. If you tell them too early without a clear plan, you risk causing anxiety, distractions, and key personnel looking for safer harbors. If you tell them too late, they will feel betrayed, which can destroy the trust required to get through a brutal due diligence process.

The right time to share this information with your leadership team is when you have committed to the path and have a clear, structured timeline, typically six to nine months before going to market. When you deliver the news, frame it as the natural next step in the company's evolution, not as your personal exit strategy.

Align the transition with your V/TO® and show them how the sale will provide the resources needed to achieve the company's long-term vision. Be direct about how their roles will be protected and how they fit into the future Accountability Chart.

Most importantly, tie their focus back to their quarterly Rocks. Explain that the single best way they can protect their own future and maximize the value of their equity or stay-bonuses is by keeping their heads down and executing the daily business. Maintain your regular Level 10 Meetings™ to keep the team focused on operational excellence throughout the process.