Supporting per interest
Learn who the opinion leaders are and what the source of their power is, especially in case of a big group. Have discussions with them first. Send positive messages by spending time with your employees, helping them in the transition. Manage actively those work connections that help to gain mutual understanding and trust, and which help to prevent negative assumptions (biases). Don’t expect honesty. Always assume hidden resistance to change. Take care of your body language / meta-communication. Clarify your expectations, repeat your messages, be “transparent”. Accept genuine misunderstandings, but only once.