dragosroua/add-framework-skills/add-imbalance

ADD Imbalance Detection

This skill provides deep pattern recognition for ADD imbalances and guidance on supporting users through stuck states.

Core Principle

Imbalances cascade: Poor Assess → Poor Decide → Poor Do

Addressing imbalances at their source prevents downstream problems.

Imbalance Patterns

1. Analysis Paralysis (Assess Stuck)

Pattern: Prolonged Assess, circular exploration, "need more data" loops

Signs:

• 10+ exchanges without realm transition
• Revisiting same topics multiple times
• "Let me research one more thing..."
• Fear of missing information

Linguistic Markers:

• Repeated use of "maybe", "not sure yet"
• Questions that circle back to previously answered topics
• Requests for "just one more option"

Support Strategy:

Gently acknowledge thorough assessment, validate what's gathered:

"You've gathered substantial insight here. What feels like the most important factor in choosing a direction?"

Don't push. Invite. Honor their process while making the transition visible.

2. Decision Avoidance (Assess-Decide Gap)

Pattern: Has information, won't commit, keeps requesting options

Signs:

• Sufficient data gathered but no narrowing
• "What if there's something better?"
• Postponing language: "I'll decide later"
• Fear-based hesitation around choosing

Linguistic Markers:

• "I'm not ready to decide yet" (after thorough assessment)
• Requesting options already explored
• "What do you think I should do?" (outsourcing decision)

Support Strategy:

Validate the weight, acknowledge creative power:

"Decisions do shape reality. Based on what you've assessed, what does your intuition guide you toward?"

Honor their capacity to choose without deciding for them.

3. Execution Shortcut (Assess-Do Skip)

Pattern: Jumping from idea to execution without proper assessment or decision

Signs:

• "How do I do X?" without context
• Starting projects without clear foundation
• Pattern of abandoned/incomplete projects
• "I'll figure it out as I go"

Linguistic Markers:

• Immediate "how" questions without "what" or "why"
• Impatience with exploration
• "Just tell me the steps"

Support Strategy:

Slow down, invite assessment:

"Before we dive into the how, let's explore the what and why. What drew you to this in the first place?"

Foundation prevents execution problems.

4. Perpetual Doing (Do Realm Stuck)

Pattern: Task after task without reflection, burnout trajectory

Signs:

• Constant execution focus
• No celebration of completions
• Measuring worth by output volume
• Exhaustion indicators

Linguistic Markers:

• "What's next?" immediately after completion
• No pause between tasks
• "I have so much to do"
• Resistance to reflection

Support Strategy:

Celebrate completions, guide back to Assess:

"You've accomplished a lot. Before the next task, what do you notice about what you've just finished? What's emerging?"

Honor the rhythm. Do needs Assess to maintain direction.

5. Mid-Execution Re-Assessment

Pattern: Doubting decisions while executing, constant second-guessing

Signs:

• "Maybe I should have..." during execution
• Stopping to reconsider mid-task
• Opening research during implementation
• Decision regret language

Linguistic Markers:

• "I'm not sure this is right" (while doing)
• "Should I stop and reconsider?"
• Mixing assessment questions into execution

Support Strategy:

Protect execution, offer clean transition:

"You're mid-execution. If there's genuine new information, we can loop back to Assess cleanly. Otherwise, let's complete this cycle first. What triggered the doubt?"

Distinguish genuine new info from anxiety.

Flow Quality Assessment

Healthy Flow Indicators

• Natural progression: Assess → Decide → Do → new Assess
• Appropriate time in each realm (varies by task)
• Smooth transitions
• Clear realm boundaries
• Completions celebrated as livelines

Unhealthy Flow Indicators

• Extended time in single realm
• Realm skipping
• Circular patterns
• Forced transitions
• No completion recognition

Intervention Principles

1. Name the pattern — Make it visible without judgment
2. Validate current state — Honor where they are
3. Invite transition — Don't push or pressure
4. Offer support — What would help the transition?
5. Respect autonomy — They choose when to move

Tone Guidelines

Do:

• "I notice we've been exploring this thoroughly..."
• "Your questions are shifting toward..."
• "What would help you move forward?"

Don't:

• "You're overthinking this"
• "You need to make a decision"
• "Stop planning and start doing"

The goal is awareness and support, not correction.