OODA Magic
In the world of military strategy, Colonel Boyd had a brilliant method for teaching a decision-making “loop” used in combat. Boyd taught that we Observe – Orient – Decide – and Act. It’s that order all the time, and if we can keep our adversaries always Observing new problems we give them, we can already be Acting while they’re trying to Decide what to do about it.
Boyd flew fighter jets, and used his ideas there, then in large-scale military strategy planning. We can do that without weapons, one-on-one, too. Here’s how.
Read MoreUncreating a Monster – How to Rid Yourself of Unwanted Contact
Persistence is the refusal to let go or give up on something regardless of opposition. It’s a quality that most people admire and wish they had in their own lives. Persistence is part of the formula for success, after all, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”
Sounds great – except when it isn’t.
Like when the persistent person is an ex-lover who refuses to stop pursuing you. Or an ex-business partner who continues to leave threatening messages, believing that you owe him something. Or a relative stranger who refuses to let go of the delusion that the two of you have a real relationship. In all of these cases, persistence is not admired – it’s annoying.
Sound familiar?
If so, you might be wondering how to get rid of this person once and for all.
Read MoreBoys Will Stay Boys – A Look at the Extended Adolescence Phase
With more and more twenty- and even thirty-something-year-old males embracing the Peter Pan promise to “never grow up”, the culture is suddenly forced to deal with a new developmental stage: The adult-aged adolescent. These “guys” are old enough to act like men, they just refuse to cross the line. You might think they’re cute, and fun-loving, but as far as society is concerned, they are doing a lot more harm than good.
Read MoreFear, Pride, Monkey Brain and Not Stepping On Your Dick
Peter’s Note: This is an exclusive from Marc “Animal” MacYoung. He’s brutally honest, and you need to know what he’s talking about. Oh, and it’s NOT for the kids.
No reflection on your sex life1 but, every night you go to bed with a human, a monkey and a lizard.
This is a model that reflects the different parts of your brain. A rough breakdown goes like this: Your Human is your thinking, rational neocortex. Your Monkey is your socio-emotional limbic system. (It’s what allows humans to function in groups.) Your Lizard is your survival-oriented hind brain and cerebellum.
This model isn’t technically accurate, but that’s OK. It’s hard to remember scientific explanations when someone is in your face, barking, howling, drooling, insulting or threatening you.
On the other hand, when someone’s acting like a pissed off monkey it’s pretty easy to remember this model. Also it’s important to know because someone making references to your testicles on your mother’s chin is trying to light up your Monkey and get you to act the same way.
Read MoreHostile Attribution Bias
Allow me to set t
he scene: It’s Saturday night and you are out at the local bar. Perhaps you’re with your buddies, catching up after the long work week, or maybe you’re with your significant other trying to enjoy a little romantic time together. In any case, the night is going well, fun is being had, and you are feeling great. You lean back against the bar, allowing yourself to soak up the moment, your eyes settle into a steady gaze…
And that’s when it happens: A deep, angry voice calls out from a nearby corner. “You got a problem or something?”
Read MoreWords and Actions for the Streets
[Peter's Note: This article was written specifically for the Guardian Angels, by one of the most respected authors in law enforcement training: Dr Steven Albrecht. Please enjoy, and share this rare and awesome learning opportunity with friends and other Guardian Angels. ]
One of the many advantages of working in teams is that you can change the ratios of confrontation very quickly. However, there are times when too many people make things worse. When there are “more of us than there are of them,” it can cause suspects to escalate their behavior, either for their own sense of survival, or more likely, just to save face for themselves or in front of their friends.
Because you work in groups of varying size, it’s critical that you use your knowledge of group dynamics to your advantage. Spacing, positioning, and distance are all part of your tool kit. We know from studies of human communication and experience that standing too close to people raises the emotional temperature of the contact.
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