Recognising Gaps Before They Become A Problem

While stocks last

At first glance, everything looks in order. Consistent. Reliable. Fully stocked.

Look closer and the gaps appear. Not enough to alarm, but enough to signal use.

This is how strain shows up. Not as complete breakdown, but as the precursor. The work keeps moving, commitments are met, and standards appear to hold. But something is slightly off.

Depletion is rarely binary. It shows up in slower responses, shorter patience, and the gradual narrowing of what people are willing to take on. By the time it’s clearly visible, it has already cost something.

Part of the problem is distance. From far enough away, things can look fully stocked long after the reality has changed. You have to get closer to see the gaps.

What looks fully stocked from a distance but might tell a different story up close?

David R. Smith