How I Make Decisions — The OODA Loop System

Turning Chaos into Clarity: My Blueprint for Smart Decisions

The OODA loop model, otherwise known as “the decision cycle” was developed by US Air Force Colonel John Boyd as he sought to help pilots with their decision making process when in air combat.

Although this model won’t turn you into a fighter pilot, the core principles to better decision making are applicable to anyone. Like pilots, people from all backgrounds and cultures will find themselves in pressurised, emotionally dense, serious situations that require precise, meaningful decisions.

Success in business specifically requires you to be one step ahead of the competition while also being prepared to react to whatever is thrown your way. While it likely isn’t the do or die situation a fighter pilot might encounter, being a top performer requires strong decision making in all aspects of your life. If you find it difficult to maintain consistent decision patterns in your every day life — such as not listening to your gut, for example — starting at your place of work is perhaps the best place for you to grow. There, you can hone something an efficient business requires — good decision making skills. The more you assert yourself and trust your mind at work, the stronger you’ll feel within yourself. From there, a trickle…