No Way Out Beyond the Linear OODA Loop: Jon Becker Breaks Down Authentic OODA Loop
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Dec 11, 2025 Jon Becker, CEO of Aardvark Tactical and host of The Debrief, dives into the authentic OODA loop, challenging traditional views. He reveals how orientation, not speed, drives success in tactical leadership. Jon shares insights from his transformative experience with fellow tactical leaders, clarifying the pitfalls of linear OODA. By linking orientation to decision-making and exploring cultural biases, he illustrates why misconceptions can derail teams. The conversation also touches on real-world applications like Netflix versus Blockbuster, emphasizing the need for humility and diverse perspectives in decision-making.
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The Linear OODA Is Misleading
- The common linear OODA depiction is reductionist and strips out orientation's geometric complexity.
- Viewing Boyd's sketch with many interconnected arrows makes OODA more applicable and actionable.
Orientation, Not Speed, Wins
- Orientation is the primary driver of sensing, decisions, and actions, not loop speed.
- Misaligned orientation makes speed harmful because you rapidly go the wrong direction.
OODA's Components Are Not Equal
- Equal-weighting the OODA stages obscures their disproportionate roles and hinders applicability.
- Viewing orientation as central reveals critical practices like shared operating pictures and bias mitigation.
