The French phrase “tourner dans le vide” literally translates to “spinning in the void” or “turning in emptiness.” It describes a situation where action is being taken, effort is being expended, but no meaningful progress is being made. This can manifest as repetitive tasks yielding no results, conversations going in circles without reaching a conclusion, or projects stalled despite continuous activity. An example would be repeatedly running a failing algorithm with identical parameters, expecting a different outcome without addressing the underlying flaw.
This type of unproductive activity is often a symptom of deeper issues, such as a lack of clear goals, ineffective communication, or fundamental flaws in the process itself. Recognizing and addressing the causes of this “spinning in the void” is crucial for optimizing efficiency and achieving desired outcomes. Historically, understanding this phenomenon has been a key driver in the development of project management methodologies and process optimization techniques aimed at preventing wasted effort and resources.
