Ignore Problems At Your Peril

Ignoring the icebergs doesn’t make them disappear—and the same principle applies to all problems. This was the deadly lesson learned by the captain and crew of the Titanic in 1912. I wish I could say I’ve never made the same foolish mistake as Captain Edward John Smith, but unfortunately, I’ve recently repeated a painful pattern, allowing a problem to linger far too long.

Most problems are painful, but relationship problems are always the most painful. Recently, I allowed a relationship issue to go on much longer than I should have. By the time I finally realized it was time to address it, the problem had grown far bigger than I ever expected.

I don’t enjoy conflict, but I don’t shy away from it either. I try to address it right away because I know it can create opportunities for real growth and stronger relationships in the future.

I tried to justify my reluctance to address this conflict because I overestimated my skills and underestimated the seriousness of the issue. I always try to give the benefit of the doubt and allow room for misunderstanding when dealing with “people problems.” I hoped my leadership skills would be strong enough to handle this difficult situation and find a peaceful solution. Wow, was I wrong.

There is no excuse for not addressing this problem more directly, especially since I’ve faced similar issues before. What makes it worse is that I greatly underestimated how severe the problem truly was. I believe this is a common challenge for all leaders. Rarely do they see what is really happening among the people they lead, because human nature drives people to appear good in their boss’s eyes. As a result, leaders often don’t see the true extent of a problem until it reaches a crisis point.

I recently relearned that whenever I ignore a problem, I do so at my own peril. To help you avoid making the same painful mistake, I’ve listed the typical consequences of ignoring problems—and how to address them before it’s too late.

We all know it often feels easier to walk around minor issues than to confront them head-on. But just like a small flame can grow into an uncontrollable blaze, those little problems never stay little for long. When you choose to ignore them, you’re not solving anything—you’re simply letting them fester.

There’s something a bit twisted in the heart of anyone who actually enjoys dealing with conflict. So don’t be surprised if you naturally feel averse to facing a problem directly. In moments like this, it’s best to let your head guide your heart. No matter what your emotions say about avoiding a problem, your mind knows the truth—it won’t go away on its own.

By the way, if you’re honest with yourself, deep down you probably already know that you can’t avoid a problem without facing consequences. Sooner or later, choosing to ignore an issue will likely come back to hurt you in the long run.

You might not like to hear this, but… not responding to a problem is still a response. Refusing to address an issue while it’s still developing is always a recipe for deeper misunderstandings later on. Just like my recent relationship failure, avoiding an issue can eventually build walls that become impossible to overcome.

The truth is, problems don’t age like fine wine. They don’t get better with time; instead, they become more complicated and harder to handle. Rather than fostering communication and resolving issues together, we risk creating rifts that can eventually tear us apart.

In life, it’s not the problems you face that define you, but how you choose to confront them. Would you rather put a little energy into a small problem now, or a lot of energy into a much bigger problem later? Either way, the problem won’t disappear without your attention and effort. Learn from my mistake—take action now so you won’t have to take much more later.

It’s much easier to climb a small hill now than to face a huge mountain later. Every challenge you encounter gives you a choice: confront it now or let it grow. Taking action today prevents bigger crises tomorrow. It’s about being proactive and having the courage to address issues as soon as they arise.

So don’t wait for the mountain to appear before you. Be brave enough to climb the hills today. It’s the only way to ensure you won’t be overwhelmed by the mountains of tomorrow.