There is little doubt that one of the most vital attributes of a leader is the ability to recognize a pending negative event/relationship and “nip it in the bud”.

The Reason: It is easier to rectify (manage) a situation in its infancy (embryonic stage) than when it is majorly manifesting (in full bloom).

Over the years, I have seen countless instances when leaders have let things slide until the situation or relationship morphed into a major mess with negative repercussions for both parties, and often for countless others who were directly or indirectly associated with the issue.

There are numerous current events that verify the merits of nipping it in the bud, versus delaying and confronting the issue when it is in a far more difficult stage to resolve. The following are just a few; see how this applies to your world during the last 90 days:

Event: ISIS leaving Syria for Iraq.
Immediate Response: Nothing, simply monitor the migration.
Possible Immediate Response: When a large convoy of terrorist made their way across the barren land from their outpost in Syria to their arrival in Samarra, they were sitting ducks out in the middle of nowhere. The entire brigade could have easily been deterred/destroyed, and pinned in Syria.
Way Late Response: Confronting an enemy with tens of thousands of fighters who pose a major threat to all the people in the region and the world at large.

Event: China building up the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
Immediate Response: nothing, simply monitor the buildup
Possible Immediate Response: At the moment it became apparent that China was adding size to the land mass of the islands for military bases, park a war ship in the area and announce there will be no more building on the islands.
Way Late Response: Navigating a war ship within 12 miles of the islands to prove that the waters are international waters and freely navigable for all. Now that China has a major investment in the ground, and their prowess is at stake, it is likely they will fight harder to retain than they would have when it was just an idea.
 
Conversely there are current events where it is obvious the issue was nipped in the bud.

Event: Russian lands fighter planes in Syria.
Immediate Response: Practically the day after Russia landed fighter planes in Syria, Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu was in Russia conferring with Vladimir Putin regarding the ground rules in Syria. He nipped it in the bud.

Event: Lindsey Graham gives out Donald Trump’s cell phone number
Immediate Response: Trump nipped it in the bud by immediately recording a new answering message encouraging all callers to vote for him as President.
 
Everything I write is always designed to inform as well as direct the reader to purchase and read one of the In-Syncness books. Rather you are a "nip it in the bud" type person or someone who hesitates to immediately confront the issues, both are a derivative of your chutzpah and leadership style.

Brash leaders can always hone their skills and reticent leaders can always develop more courage. Check out In-Syncness books and find the one that is best for you at www.insyncness.com/books   There is also a link to Amazon and B&N