Though the stakes can be high, a merger or acquisition (M&A) can be too great an opportunity to ignore. Understanding your personal and business reasons for taking one on can help you stay committed and improve your odds of success.

Business deals can have many failure points and the majority of deals end in failure. For middle-market businesses, a merger or acquisition can be one of the most uncertain moves an executive or business owner can make.

Even careful plans with thorough checklists can encounter roadblocks at various stages of the M&A process, which stall progress. These might include:

• A business strategy that isn’t fully understood throughout the organization
• Delayed decisions on leadership roles that create confusion
• Lack of a comprehensive roadmap for achieving a seamless day-one close
• Not knowing where to prioritize efforts post-close

 Below are five tips that can help reduce the risk of a merger or acquisition failure.