Many times there's a lot of excitement when a company goes public, and not just in the markets: It's a time of change and new possibilities for the people who have poured their hearts and souls into taking a business to the next level. 

The transition from private to public can be confusing under the best of circumstances and can even become a major source of frustration for key talent. It is critical for HR leaders to communicate early and often about the process. Suddenly, employees must navigate a legal and regulatory maze, confusing terminology, and new choices that can have a big impact on their long-term financial outlook. Adding another wrinkle to the landscape, direct public offerings (DPOs) are rising in popularity and raising new areas of confusion for employees and HR leaders to tackle.