Importance of the Negative Feedback Loop

Suppose you are driving your car on the long road and suddenly the dashboard flashes a large, red overheating warning sign.

Is that feedback positive or negative for you? We have been discussing systems thinking and how all elements of a system are interconnected.

Since all parts are interconnected, it is then obvious that a change in one part of any system will cause a change in another area.

This change can be observed and that is what we call a feedback loop. Some changes cause the system to further move towards its goal, that is a positive feedback loop.

However, some changes work against the goal of the system, which is regarded as a negative feedback loop.

Here is the point: Negative feedback is often more valuable than positive feedback because it is sometimes the best source of information to stabilise and improve a system towards its goal.

Any system that continually neglects and ignores a negative feedback loop is accelerating its own ultimate destruction.

A warning sign from your car dashboard may seem like bad news but it is truly positive feedback because it is helping you make sure you reach your destination safely.

Oddly enough, in the workplace, we are quick to reject feedback that is seemingly not consistent with want we want to hear or see.

Unfortunately, there is a tendency to reject or resist negative feedback.

In the same way that ignoring the warning sign will lead to a car’s total breakdown, we are to soberly consider all feedback being given by others.

Certainly, you should not confuse negative people with negative feedback, because accurate and sincere negative feedback is a very positive thing.

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.