Develop Your Situational Awareness With the “OODA Loop” System
In the world of smartphones and headphones, we often forget how to understand our surroundings. It can be dangerous – or rude, depending on the situation – but you can help yourself with the OODA Loop Learning System.
Originally developed by Air Force fighter pilot and military strategist John Boyd, OODA Loop is designed to help you quickly assess every situation so you are prepared for any possible outcome. Brett and Keith McKay, from The Art of Manliness, outline the main steps:
The four steps of the OODA cycle are observation, orientation, decision, action . In hand-to-hand combat such as air-to-air combat, violent confrontation in a parking lot or even political competition, the winner is the one who goes through the OODA cycle the fastest.
However, when it comes to being aware of the current situation, the steps of observation and orientation are most important. As McKay explains, Orient will tell you what you should look for and how to turn it into useful information. For example, when you walk into a coffee shop, observe and note how many people are inside and where the exits are located. This way, you can choose an emergency escape route and act accordingly if the time comes. It can always seem silly to prepare for these kinds of emergencies, but it’s not silly when something really happens . This is easy to do, and with enough practice, you will find that you do it automatically. Being safe mostly comes down to preparation, so try to be as safe as possible.
How to develop Jason Bourne’s situational awareness “wiki useful The Art of Masculinity