-- Employees in large companies are more likely to follow the lead of their managers, not their executives. Get the management team's support early.

-- At your first meeting with managers, find out how they feel and address their concerns. "Mostly just by their knowing that we cared and were listening to them, we'd get the management team engaged," says Shelman.

-- If employees are gung-ho about joining your team but their manager resists, consider replacing the manager. "If the manager isn't behind you, you have 40 people who aren't behind you -- even if they want to be," Shelman says.

Kurt Woetzel

Executive vice president and CIO