How can I improve my situational awareness?

The concept of situational awareness may pique the interest of anyone who has seen The Bourne Identity. At one moment early in the film, Jason Bourne is trying to figure out who he is. He is troubled by the way his own mind has been conditioned to function. He explains that within minutes of entering a bar, he has assessed the weight and strength of the other patrons, memorised the number plates of the cars parked outside, identified the exits and even noticed that the bartender is left-handed.

Intelligence officers and military personnel receive this type of training. It's called "situational awareness" and it means being able to quickly and effortlessly recognise critical details about your surroundings. However, situational awareness is important for everyone, especially those who want to develop a warrior mindset. Situational awareness enables us to recognise potential risks more quickly and to avoid or neutralise them. It enables us to act quickly and efficiently when circumstances require it and ultimately allows us to protect ourselves and others.

The problem is that most of us are busy with other things, such as our jobs, Angry Birds, debt, relationships and the woman at work who wears a short skirt. How can we re-energise our minds and start paying attention to the things that are important to us?

The OODA loop

Brett McKay explains a tactic used by Air Force fighter pilot and military strategist John Boyd in his great article Art of Manliness. The OODA process is a four-step process:

• Observe (Observe)
• Orientation (Orient)
• Decide
• Act (Act)

To get started, you first need to observe. This means that you cannot switch off completely and put your feet up. You can't allow your "default mode" to kick in (basically, you need to stay focused on what's going on). Yes, you should be comfortable, but you should also be alert. Position yourself in a room so that you can see as many people as possible, but at the same time avoid letting others catch you off guard. A great example of this is sitting in the corner of a room with your back to the wall. If possible, stay close to an exit.

The second step is orientation, which in this case means looking for specific objects. Pay attention to the typical behaviour and conditions in a particular area of the environment. Look for deviations from the norm. Is there someone who seems uncomfortable? Is someone dressed inappropriately? Is there a noise that you think shouldn't be there?

The next step is to decide whether or not you should act and how you should act. Devise a strategy and don't hesitate to execute it. Trust your instincts at this point and be cautious when in doubt. Is someone acting suspiciously or violently? Try to move away from the person or make them aware that they are being watched. Are you in a place where there is a strange atmosphere? Then get your family away from there as quickly as possible.

These recommendations could save your life one day They will at least help you to adopt a combative attitude that will be felt by those around you.