In the Air Force, Colonel John Boyd was known for being the best fighter pilot of his generation. He could finish you off in a dogfight in under 40 seconds.

In a dogfight, pilots have to make hundreds of decisions while flying the plane, not counting paying attention to the adversary. Boyd’s edge was his ability to make decisions quickly.

​In the wider world, Colonel John Boyd is known for creating the OODA Loop, a four-step framework for making effective decisions in high-stakes situations.

The OODA Loop has four steps:

1: Observe

​Step one is to observe the situation. Your goal is to build an accurate picture of the environment and the problem. You will ask questions such as:

This stage is about gathering information and converting it into an overall meaning.

2: Orient

​Step two is to understand barriers that could affect your decision-making process. The orient part is often skipped in decision-making because it is poorly understood. You will ask questions such as:

The orientation step is about connecting yourself to the objective reality of your situation.

3: Decide

Step three is the decision. You must now decide based on the context you’ve built with the first two steps.

4: Act

Step three is to act. By taking action, you will test whether your decision was the right one. During this step, it is helpful to outline the tasks needed to make that decision a reality.

Loop

​Observe the results of your action. Orient yourself to understand what could affect your decision. Make a decision. Act on it.

Here are the three areas where this can be applied.

Area 1: During your presentation

Observe the behaviour of your colleagues as you present. How are they reacting to your message? Orient yourself by assessing their reaction through your company’s cultural norms. Is their reaction normal? Make a decision about providing more context to your presentation. Act on that decision.

Area 2: While being stuck in traffic

Observe the slowing-moving cars and traffic reports on the radio. Orient yourself by assessing if this is a normal pattern for this place and time. Make a decision about staying on this route or finding an alternative. Act on that decision.

Area 3: On the street

Observe the suspicious man's hands and face. Orient yourself by assessing his mood, your mood, and your biases toward his clothing, behaviour, and appearance. Decide that you’re in danger and must remove yourself from the situation. Act on that decision.

The OODA Loop is one of the most useful frameworks for making decisions in high-stakes situations. Air Force pilots use it every day in their training and missions. With practice, you can become just as effective.