Harm States
Harm usually does not appear all at once. It progresses through recognisable states shaped by communication, processes, power and system constraints. This page helps you identify which state you might be in.
"Knowing the state of harm is not about blame – it is about understanding what the system is doing to people, and what support is now required."
Harm States help you name where things are up to. Instead of “it just feels bad”, you can say: this is early friction, pattern formation, compounding harm or systemic risk. That shared language makes it easier to describe what is happening, document it clearly, and decide what comes next.
The Four Harm States
Early Friction
Low-level strain, confusion or tension – often fixable with clarity.
- Misunderstandings or mixed messages between people or teams.
- Unclear expectations about roles, deadlines or processes.
- Discomfort that is present, but not yet affecting safety or core rights.
Pattern Formation
The same issues repeat, and it starts to look systemic.
- Repeated delays, cancellations or process loops affecting one person or group.
- Inconsistent application of rules or procedures across similar situations.
- Growing sense that “this keeps happening” or is not just a one-off mistake.
Compounding Harm
Multiple issues begin stacking, and impacts are harder to reverse.
- Stress, health or safety are being affected over time.
- Procedural looping or failed follow-up is now impacting trust and functioning.
- Different risks (workload, reputation, income, relationships) start overlapping.
Systemic Risk
The system itself is now contributing to ongoing or serious harm.
- Processes keep failing even when people follow “the right steps”.
- Safety, rights or equity are being consistently undermined or ignored.
- Standard channels are no longer able to resolve or contain the issue.
What to do with this insight
Once you have a sense of your current Harm State, the next question is: what is driving the movement? The Harm Acceleration Factors guide helps you identify the conditions that speed harm up inside systems.
Continue to Harm Acceleration Factors →