There’s nothing quite like that sinking feeling when you hear a sharp ping on your windshield. That’s exactly what happened to me one day while driving—following a truck, minding my own business, when suddenly, a stone kicked up and hit my car. I wasn’t sure where it struck, but I knew it happened. An hour later, a small crack appeared. No big deal, I thought. I still had another hour of driving, a meeting, and then a two-hour drive home. I figured I’d get it repaired after work.
By the time my meeting ended, I noticed the crack had grown slightly. Still, I wasn’t too concerned. A friend reassured me that as long as the crack stayed smaller than a dollar bill, it could be repaired without needing a full windshield replacement. I went back to work, not giving it much thought. But at the end of the day, the crack had grown considerably.
The next morning, it was worse—spreading to the point where I knew I was in trouble. Within 24 hours, what started as a small, manageable issue had spiraled into a full-blown replacement.
Leadership works the same way. Small cracks—whether in culture, communication, or performance—can quickly spread if left unaddressed. What could have been a simple fix turns into a costly and time-consuming problem. So, what can leaders do when they detect a small issue?
1. Spot the First Chip
Just like I initially heard the rock hit my car, leaders often sense when something isn’t quite right. The key is not to ignore that gut feeling. Whether it’s tension in a meeting, a dip in team morale, or early signs of a project going off track, acknowledging the issue right away allows for proactive intervention before it spreads. Leaders who delay addressing concerns often find that small problems become deeply rooted, requiring far more effort to correct later. A simple question—“What’s going on here?”—can open the door to early resolution.
2. Seal the Crack Early
A tiny windshield crack only requires a quick injection of resin to prevent it from growing. Likewise, addressing small leadership issues—having a direct conversation, clarifying expectations, or making a minor course correction—can prevent larger disruptions. Small actions, such as recognizing a brewing conflict and addressing it with honest dialogue, can stop resentment from spreading. Leaders should resist the temptation to brush things off, assuming they will resolve themselves. More often than not, problems don’t disappear—they expand.
3. Reinforce the Glass
Even after addressing an issue, leaders must check back to ensure it isn’t growing. A minor frustration left unchecked can become a major cultural problem. Regular follow-ups, open communication, and ongoing awareness help keep small cracks from becoming costly replacements. This could be as simple as setting a reminder to check in with a team member, revisiting an earlier conversation, or tracking a new initiative’s impact over time. Leaders who consistently monitor progress reinforce accountability and prevent regression, strengthening the foundation of their team—just like reinforcing glass to prevent future cracks.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
By the time I got out of work that evening, I knew I was in trouble. My small windshield crack had grown so much that what could have been a quick fix now required an entirely new replacement. Leadership works the same way. Small issues, if left unattended, rarely stay small. They grow—sometimes exponentially—until they demand far more time, energy, and resources to fix.
So here’s the challenge: What “small crack” have you noticed in your leadership, team, or organization? Address it now. Spot the first chip, seal the crack early, and reinforce the glass. Because waiting too long doesn’t just make the problem worse—it might just mean replacing something that could have been repaired.
Neil Gupta, Ed.D. 
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