Though you may not have done anything, will that be a consolation when she’s gone?  –Billy Joel

Several years ago, my friend worked for a small technology firm in the internet advertising space.  It was a great company with a flat organizational structure, and the CEO was hands-on (in a good way) with just about every aspect of the company.

My friend was the top salesperson, and the CEO had big plans for his future, including a management position.  The Head of Sales, however, was long on trite sayings and short on grit and execution. Worst of all, he didn’t have the back of any of his team members.

After about six months of this lackluster leadership, my friend couldn’t take it anymore.  He searched around and easily found another high-paying job.  When he went in to tell the CEO about his alternate career plans, the CEO was floored.

“You made more money this year than I did.  And your pipeline is robust.  Why would you possibly leave?” 

“I can’t work for [Head of Sales] anymore.  I’ve been suffering for a while under his leadership.”

The CEO slouched even further in his chair and let a huge exhale. In the back of his mind, he knew the Head of Sales was trouble.  He had meant to have a frank conversation with him but did nothing about it.  And now, his top sales guy, and potential successor, was leaving as a result of his inaction.

“Deep down, I knew it.  I should have fired him 3 months ago!” 

For the CEO, it was a costly lesson.  But it should be a cautionary tale for the rest of us.  Our gut intuition is a powerful force.  And whether in our personal or professional lives, if we choose to ignore it, we do so at our own peril.

Small Issues Can Fester Without Communication

As managers and executives, we know our direct reports and can sense when someone on our team is not performing.  Little things add up.  And if you think it is time to have a tough conversation, it is probably PAST time to have that tough conversation. Delaying or denying does not serve the interests of either party.  Perhaps the team member is going through a tough time and needs support. Perhaps, they are just burned out and slacking.  Either way, muffling our inner voice and moving on to less prickly matters only prolongs the pain.

The same is true in our personal lives.  In our close relationships, we may sense there is distance.  We may sense the other person needs to hear some words of encouragement.  But we may ignore that intuition. It is much easier to follow the status quo and take the path of least resistance.  Over time, those silent moments compound any slight fissure.  And soon, there is an insurmountable gap and a permanent fracture!

We Have to Listen to Our Inner Voice

People will tell you that it is never too late to make a change.  And that is generally true.  We can always learn from our mistakes and take action.  We can always grow and make better decisions in the future.  We can always ask for forgiveness and a second chance at life.  That is the beauty of redemption.

But sometimes, it is, actually, too late. Some opportunities have a shelf life and never return again.  Some relationships have a breaking point that may never mend.  Some moments in time can be lost forever.  Sometimes, we can’t reverse the consequences of our inaction. Resiliency allows us to bounce back for the next opportunity. It allows us to build new relationships and strive for future moments of glory.  But resiliency is all about moving forward.  It cannot undo the past.

So we have to be extra vigilant.  We have to work extra hard to listen to our inner voice.  We have to pare down the noise and take action even when no one tells us to do so.  There is no downside to checking in.  There is no downside to clear communication.  We are a lot smarter and more intuitive than we think.  There is no downside to trusting our gut instinct.

What is on your mind this week?  What tough conversation have you been avoiding?  What have you wanted to say but couldn’t or wouldn’t express?  What action have you ignored or stuffed down in your subconscious?  Listen to your own voice.  Find the time.  Find the courage.  Do it.  Don’t wait until it is too late.