The Space Between

Dashboard

Too often, business leaders focus on what is visible—the tools, the people, the spreadsheets, the reports. But it’s the space between these things—the gaps, the interactions, the moments, the trodden pathways, the flow—that defines whether a system works or fails.

? A wheel isn’t useful because of its spokes; it’s useful because of the space they create around the hub.

? A cup isn’t useful because of the clay; it’s useful because of its capacity.

? A room isn’t useful because of its walls; it’s useful because of the open space where people move, work, and live.

In business, we obsess over what exists—the structures, the policies, the org charts—but it’s the empty spaces that determine success.

? A meeting isn’t valuable because of the agenda; it’s valuable because of the conversations that happen within it.

? A strategy isn’t powerful because of the slides; it’s powerful because of the actions it enables.

? A business isn’t successful because of its hierarchy; it’s successful because of how knowledge and decisions flow through it.

Usefulness Can Be Measured in Absence.

The real work isn’t in the rigid pieces of the system—it’s in the space between them. It’s in the handoffs, the interactions, the moments where decisions are made. That’s where friction hides. That’s where waste accumulates. That’s where entropy creeps in.

Most leaders try to force productivity by adding more—more rules, more oversight, more tools, more accountability. But true operational excellence isn’t about what you add—it’s about what you remove. It’s about shaping the empty spaces so that the system functions naturally, without constant intervention.

Design for Flow, Not Just Structure

A poorly designed system demands constant pushing, prodding, and hustling. A well-designed system flows—it moves without excessive friction, and the work happens because the environment enables it.

? The best-designed process doesn’t require heroic effort—it makes success the path of least resistance.

? The best communication strategy isn’t a flood of emails—it’s an environment where the right information reaches the right people at the right time.

? The best leadership isn’t about control—it’s about designing systems where the need for control disappears.

The system is not the pieces—it’s the space between them.

Derrick’s new book The System is available for presale now.