There have been so many times I’ve avoided dealing with an issue or problem. You too? Just unnecessarily putting something off. This has rarely served me well. Why? Because most of the time I delayed acting? There was a cost. A consequence of my inaction. What I’ve found is that delay invites things that just don’t work. Like random events … “Oh no! How’d that happen?!” “Damn! I should have…” Without acting, the odds are these things will not end up well. Simply, “I should have stepped in and nipped this in the bud!” What do I mean? An example to illustrate.

I had a client I’d worked with for over three years. An organization that had just installed new leadership. A company with a decades long, stellar reputation. The prior CEO had built a great culture. A great team. All the stuff to take the business forward. Healthy growth, financial success followed. Then he retired.

Enter his successor. The company’s board had painstakingly conducted a thorough, thoughtful process. A nationwide search. Finalists were introduced to key constituents. A choice was made. By all measures they had found their man. Early months of the new CEO’s tenure looked like nothing but good news. This was the “bloom on the rose” period new people usually experience early on. Having worked closely with the prior CEO, I reached out to welcome and congratulate the new leader. I sent a letter suggesting I might pass on thoughts that could be of interest, helpful. His response … “I am well aware of the value you have provided the company in recent years. I would like to connect as soon as possible at your convenience.” Sounded promising. A follow up email to him suggesting possible times went unanswered. Tried a phone call. “Crickets.” A slight twinge in my gut signaled to me, “Hmm.” But I moved on. “He’s busy. Maybe later.”

This was followed by a few board members sharing a similar experience trying to reach out to him … with no response. Then followed by the resignation of the company’s long standing Chief Financial Officer. “Hmm.” Key members of the corporate community started to wonder. Then “whispers” of uneasiness could quietly be heard among the troops. More “Hmm” in my gut.

Made me question the approach, potential impact our new CEO might have on the business? Maybe not good. Turned out to be not good at all. But here was the real problem. Nothing was done. No one stepped forward. The damage had begun. Unabated, it would inflate. Even become a contagion hard to mitigate. And regrettably it did. Because nothing was done to … nip this situation in the bud.

Think of the life saving application of a tourniquet stemming blood flow. Or cutting off the main valve in a water system to avoid a flooding. Or here. Stepping in when early indicators suggested there needed to be early intervention to avoid harmful damage to a prestigious company. But no. The complacency of those accountable. Failure to “nip this in the bud?” … would be costly. And unfortunately, it was. Very.  The “whispers” became rumors. Competitors were even pointing to obvious problems. A year into the new CEO’s tenure? Bye bye. He was dismissed. But the damage had been done. It would take this fine organization years to recover the losses. If they’d nipped it in the bud, a lot of this could have been avoided.

Similarly, you can be faced with a problem. A difficult relationship. An investment you were considering. A decision you could have, should have made. But you delayed. And you paid a price. An avoidable one. Go through the inventory. Like me you may find instances like these that were learning experiences. Led you in the future to just suck it up and step in. Limit the loss, the downside a delay can cause.

There is the old adage … He who hesitates is lost. Does it apply here? I would say yes. The next time a “Hmm” shows up, I’ll take heed. Trust my gut and act. Knowing the downside for not nipping it in the bud can be significant. Maybe you too?