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Leadership 101: Napoleon’s Corporal
During a recent #CoffeeWithFriends session, the topic about organizational strategy and why they fail came up. Some felt that the cause was due to a lack of, or poor, communication down the line. While others felt that the quality of the strategy was the cause. I, however, argued that the root cause lay in the failure to translate strategy into actionable plans.
Too often, grand strategies crafted in boardrooms are merely passed down the chain of command without meaningful translation. Each level of the organization simply regurgitates the CEO’s strategy without considering how it translates into tangible actions for their teams. Consequently, the organization continues to operate in a business-as-usual mode.
Napoleon Bonaparte, renowned for his strategic prowess, offers a compelling example of the importance of clarity in strategy execution. Referred to as Napoleon’s Corporal, it involved testing the comprehension of his battle plans by low-ranking corporals. If they understood, the plans proceeded; otherwise, adjustments were made. This approach highlights the necessity of articulating strategy in terms understandable to all levels of an organization.
I concluded by sharing that, as leaders, our responsibility is to bridge the gap between high-level vision and day-to-day execution as effective communication and translation of strategy into actionable plans are essential for organizational success. In the words of management guru Peter Drucker, “Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.”
