There have been so many times I’ve avoided dealing with an issue or problem. You know … just put things off. This has rarely served me well. Why? Because most of the time I delayed responding? 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. This when the concept of “nipping it in the bud” needs to be applied. What do I mean? Here’s an example to illustrate.

There’s a client I’d worked with for over three years. An organization that had just installed new leadership. One 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. 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 CFO. “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.

In essence the approach, potential impact our new CEO might have on the business? Maybe not good. Not good at all. But here was the problem. Nothing was done. No one stepped forward. The damage had begun. Unabated it would inflate. Even be become a contagion hard to mitigate. And regrettably it did. 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 a 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. But no. The company’s complacency. 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, as stated as I began this piece, 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. Because you failed to “nip it in the bud.”

There is the old adage … He who hesitates is lost. Does it apply here? Most times 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.