Orientation Is Everything: Mark McGrath On Boyd’s OODA, Disruption, And Strategic Adaptation Strategy Meets Reality podcast

Orientation is Everything: Mark McGrath on Boyd’s OODA, Disruption, and Strategic Adaptation

6d ago 1:00:34

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What if the most powerful lever in strategy isn’t action—but orientation?

In this episode of Strategy Meets Reality, Mike Jones is joined by Mark McGrath—Marine veteran, strategist, and expert in John Boyd’s OODA loop—to unpack how orientation drives adaptation, shapes perception, and rewires how organisations respond to disruption.

Mark takes us deep into Boyd’s legacy, revealing why strategy is less about linear plans and more about continuous learning, destruction and creation, and evolving faster than the environment. From Wall Street trading floors to boardroom transformation, this episode is a masterclass in fighting inertia, rethinking time, and breaking free from the guardians of decay.

🔍 In this episode:

Why orientation—not action—is the true source of advantage
How destruction and creation enable real adaptation
Understanding time, tempo, and disruption
What it means to lead with curiosity and humility
Why small shifts create exponential effects
How to challenge entrenched assumptions and power

🎧 Keywords: OODA loop, John Boyd, strategy, orientation, disruption, decision-making, leadership, complexity, learning, strategic advantage

📘 Learn more from Mark at: https://substack.com/@markjmcgrath

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🔗 Full episodes, show notes, and resources: https://www.lbiconsulting.com/strategymeetsreality-podcast

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💬 Connect with host Mike Jones → https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-h-jones/

Chapters

1. Introduction to Mark McGrath (00:00:00)

2. Journey from Military to Wall Street (00:01:28)

3. The Influence of John Boyd (00:03:13)

4. Understanding Orientation in OODA Loop (00:05:46)

5. The Importance of Strategy and Adaptation (00:10:34)

6. Destruction and Creation in Strategy (00:15:29)

7. Continuous Learning and Evolution (00:23:27)

8. The Importance of Curiosity in Leadership (00:24:13)

9. Evolving Perspectives: Learning from Adversity (00:26:24)

10. Understanding Time and Its Impact on Decision Making (00:29:04)

11. The Power of Orientation in Strategy (00:31:42)

12. Disruption and the Guardians of Decay (00:35:06)

13. The Role of Technology in Shaping Our Reality (00:37:58)

14. The Impact of Information Overload (00:45:55)

15. The Exponential Effects of Small Actions (00:48:50)

16. Guardians of Decay in Organizations (00:51:09)

17. The Performative Nature of Change (00:54:43)

18. Challenging Assumptions for Thriving Organizations (00:57:23)

19. John Boyd's Legacy and Learning from History (00:58:34)

20. Outtro (01:00:29)

13 episodes