Check the Feedback Loop
Does this amplify itself or correct itself? Know which loop you're in.
For any action you're about to take, ask: Will the result of this action amplify itself (reinforcing loop) or correct itself (balancing loop)? Draw a simple diagram: action → result → does the result increase or decrease the action? If reinforcing, the effect will compound. If balancing, it will plateau. Knowing which type you're in changes everything about how you respond.
You're operating in a system where effects compound — growth, conflict, reputation, debt, team dynamics.
The action is a one-off with no systemic feedback.
Why it works
Reinforcing loops create exponential growth or exponential decline — they're the most powerful and most dangerous structures in any system. Missing them means being surprised by acceleration you should have predicted.
A reinforcing loop amplifies its own output: success attracts attention, which attracts resources, which creates more success. A balancing loop corrects itself: a thermostat detects heat, turns off the heater, the room cools, the heater fires again. Both are everywhere. The danger is treating a reinforcing loop as balanced (‘it’ll correct itself’) or a balanced loop as reinforcing (‘this growth will continue forever’). Reinforcing loops drive both viral growth and death spirals — when conflict escalates, each response amplifies the next. When trust erodes, each withdrawal reduces the chance of repair. Name the loop. Know the type. That tells you whether to ride it, break it, or redirect it.