WHAT THIS IS

The OODA Loop is a decision-making framework created by U.S. Air Force strategist Colonel John Boyd. It stands for Observe – Orient – Decide – Act and was developed to help pilots think and act faster than their opponents in uncertain, fast-moving environments.

Today, it’s used by leaders, teams, and innovators worldwide to make better decisions under pressure.

“Speed is not about haste. It’s about learning faster than the situation changes.”

‍

WHY IT MATTERS

In complex, unpredictable worlds, the organisations that win are those that learn and adapt fastest.

The OODA Loop helps you:

• Cut through paralysis and over-analysis

• Make clear calls when information is incomplete

• Learn and adjust quickly from real-world feedback

• Build confidence and momentum even in uncertainty

It’s not a one-off process — it’s a continuous learning cycle.

HOW TO USE THIS TOOL

1 IN DAILY DISCUSSIONS

When faced with uncertainty, run a fast, mental OODA loop:

• Observe: What’s actually happening?

• Orient: What’s important?

• Decide: What will I do next?

• Act: Take one step, then re-observe.

This reduces over-thinking and builds confidence in adaptive decision-making.

‍

2 IN TEAM MEETINGS

Use the OODA stages to structure your discussions:

1. Observe: Start by sharing facts, trends, or signals; no opinions yet.

2. Orient: Interpret together. What are we seeing differently?

3. Decide: Agree on one clear decision or experiment.

4. Act: Assign owners and next steps. Schedule a short follow-up to complete the next loop.

Tip: Visualise your current loops: which projects are moving fast and which are stuck in “observe–orient” with no action?

‍

3 IN STRATEGY AND INNOVATION

Use the OODA Loop for testing ideas and learning faster than competitors.

• Pilot small experiments rather than long plans.

• Use each cycle to refine understanding and direction.

• Encourage reflection: What did we see, what changed, and what did we learn

This mindset turns uncertainty into an advantage because your team becomes skilled at thinking and adapting in motion.