Double-loop learning: How to get out of autopilot and really learn
From firefighting to fire prevention
🏷️ Categories: Learning.
Harvard professor Chris Argyris asked himself whether we’re learning in the best way...
We usually learn like this: you do something, see if it works, adjust, and move on. This approach, known as single-loop learning, works… until one day it doesn’t. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, clumsily repeating mistakes, or stuck despite your efforts, it might be because you’re operating in a single loop.
The solution? Chris Argyris’ model: double-loop learning.
If you’re one of those curious, self-taught people who’s always trying new ideas, this will impress you. You’ll see why it’s crucial for decision-making and how to use it to change how you learn, live, and create.
Let’s dive in.
Single-loop learning
From a young age, we were taught to learn through single loops.
You make a mistake, correct it, and repeat. It’s the method of the traditional educational system. And while it can be useful, it’s like a thermostat that raises the temperature when it gets cold... but never questions whether the target temperature even makes sense.
It’s a reactive and functional behavior, but a very limited one. Its logic goes like this:
Did you raise the temperature to the required level or not?
Did you pass the test or not?
Did you achieve the goal or not?
Learning is based on correcting so that an action produces the expected result. But in this kind of learning, you never ask things like:
“Was this the right goal?”
“Was my way of getting there the best one?”
“Does the theory I’m following make sense in other contexts?”
That’s how many of us live on autopilot: we fix mistakes without examining the beliefs that caused them in the first place. This kind of learning works for routine or low-risk tasks but fails spectacularly when the rules change or the environment demands constant adaptation (as is the case in nearly all modern professional and personal contexts).
That’s why double-loop learning is key.
Double-loop learning
Double-loop learning happens when, in facing a problem, you change not only your actions but also how you think about the problem.
It achieves two things:
Reaching the expected result (as in single-loop).
Exploring better processes and outcomes.
It involves questioning your mental models and ways of doing things.
Instead of putting out fires and learning how to do it faster (single loop), you ask why the fire always starts in the same place and what you can do to prevent it from ever happening again (double loop). The information you get serves not only to solve the problem but to challenge and change your mental model—thus preventing future problems.
Do you see the difference between reacting and questioning?
This is the kind of learning that leads to real innovation—turning information into wisdom. It’s what separates those who repeat the same experience 20 times from those who turn each experience into valuable insight.
The paradox of success
A striking insight from Chris Argyris is that the most successful people are often the ones who have the hardest time learning from their own mistakes.
Why?
Because their identity is tied to how they act. Having succeeded in a certain way, they assume their way is the right one. For instance, a manager who believes their employees are incompetent will control everything they do. Over time, the employees become dependent and unmotivated—reinforcing the manager’s initial belief.
This vicious cycle is pure single-loop learning.
Getting out of it requires courage to challenge deeply ingrained beliefs and habits.
How to apply double-loop learning
Argyris proposes asking key questions to challenge how we act:
Is there another way to look at this problem?
Are my goals still appropriate?
What results am I getting, and why?
What theory or belief is behind my actions or plan?
Are those theories proven or just assumptions?
What would change if I changed my actions or some part of my system?
Because of confirmation bias, you must deliberately collect contradictory evidence. Only then can you critically evaluate your actions and outcomes. Once you have the answers, change the model, not just the actions. Back to the fire analogy: move from putting out fires (actions) to asking why they always start in the same place and how to prevent them altogether (model).
The noodle bar case
An article by Sweeney and Gosfield tells a story that illustrates this perfectly.
The story of a cook who turned his noodle bar—on the brink of bankruptcy—into an award-winning culinary empire, thanks to double-loop learning.
Chef Chang, after perfecting his cooking skills in Japan, decided to open his own bar. But things started rough: he was exhausted and not making a profit. He was an excellent cook—but how could he make it profitable? While most would have quit or stuck to the same formula until full failure, Chang chose a radical path: he questioned all his assumptions.
What if it shouldn't be a noodle bar at all, and I need to change direction entirely?
He could have stayed in a single loop, thinking he needed to invest in ads, tweak pricing, run promotions, cut costs, optimize work time, change suppliers...
Instead, he jumped into the double loop and questioned his core idea.
He needed to replace the fundamental concept of a noodle bar with a version that reflected his broader culinary skills. Over time, this decision paid off: crowds came, rave reviews rolled in, awards followed, and unimaginable opportunities appeared.
That is double-loop learning in practice.
It’s a type of learning that feels like a financial investment. At first, it may generate losses, but in the long run, the gains can be immense. The next time you feel like you’re repeating mistakes or falling short, don’t just ask what’s failing—evaluate your system, beliefs, and approach.
Don’t just react—think beyond the immediate.
Enter the double loop.
✍️ Your turn: In what area of your life do you have a routine you take for granted that might be holding you back? How could you improve that well-established routine?
💭 Quote of the day: “Regret is a tough but fair teacher. Living without regrets means believing you have nothing to learn, nothing to amend, and no chance to be braver with your life.” — Brené Brown, Rising Strong
See you next time! 👋
References 📚
Argyris, C. (1991). Teaching smart people how to learn. Harvard Business.
Sweeney, C. & Gosfield, J. (2013). Secret ingredient for success. The New York Times.