Waterloo Leadership that changed the world Jürgen Oschadleus MAIPM ILPF PMP 11 November 2015
Objectives The significance The story The (leadership) lessons The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos, both his own and the enemy s. (Napoleon Bonaparte)
Chronology: The Lead Up to Waterloo Exile on Elba 11 April 1814 Return to France 7 March 1815 Regains throne 20 March 1815 Seeks acceptance March / April Goes on offensive June 1815
June 1815 7 th Coalition Strategy 280,000 800,000
Napoleon s Objective Strategy is the art of making use of time and space. I am less concerned about the latter than the former; space we can recover, but time, never (Napoleon) ± 72,000-110,000 ± 75,000 123,000 ± 82,000-125,000 In strategy there is no victory (v Clausewitz)
The Leaders Soldiers, I am your emperor. Know me! If there is one of you who would kill his Emperor, here I am. Von Blücher William, Prince of Orange I have got an infamous army very weak and illequipped, and a very inexperienced staff. In my opinion they are doing nothing in Head Office Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France (1769-1821) Arthur Wellesley, 1 st Duke of Wellington (1769-1852)
The Resources (Waterloo numbers) Infantry Cavalry Artillery 53,850 (+84,000) 13,350 6,000 (156) 50,700 14,390 8,050 (252) 7 th Coalition 24,000 Napoleon 41,000
The Waterloo Program 15 June Wellington He has humbugged me, by God; he has gained 24 hours march on me Napoleon Ney Blücher D Erlon 15/6 Grouchy
The Waterloo Program 16 June My men prefer to see the enemy Napoleon Wellington Quatre Bras Ligny Ney Blücher v v D Erlon Grouchy
The Waterloo Program 17 June Wellington the most decisive moment of the century? Napoleon Ney Blücher Gniesenau Secure Quatre Bras Reinforce Ligny Stop Wellington slipping north D Erlon Grouchy
The Waterloo Program 18 June Napoleon Wellington Ney Blücher It will be as easy as having breakfast D Erlon Grouchy
Battle of Waterloo Morning of 18 June Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake
Battle of Waterloo Phase 1 ca. 11:30 Hougoumont Diversion Artillery 2,600 12,700
Battle of Waterloo Phase 2 ca. 13:30 Central bombardment D Erlon advance Napoleon did not manoeuvre at all. He just moved forward in the old style, in columns, and was driven off in the old style Cavalry counter-attack
Battle of Waterloo Phase 3 ca. 16:00 Movement mistaken for retreat Ney s cavalry attack Can't I leave the field for a minute? What's Ney doing there? How can a man go forward with the cavalry without infantry support?
Meanwhile at Wavre I ve had a brandy and a schnapps. I m good to go (Blücher) We must focus our forces on the important battle (Gniesenau) Inspiration in war is only appropriate to the commander-in-chief lieutenants must confine themselves to executing orders (Grouchy)
Battle of Waterloo Phase 4 ca. 18:30 La Haye Sainte falls Prussians win Plancenoit Battle at crisis point Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action comes, stop thinking and go in. Troops! Where do you want me to get them from? Do you want me to make them?
Battle of Waterloo Phase 5 ca. 19:30 La Garde au Feu! Nassauers slow Guards attack Prussians arrive en masse God, give me Blücher or give me night!
The Battle Ends Mein guten Kamerad! Quelle affaire The damn-nearest run thing you ever saw in your life My heart is broken by the terrible loss I have sustained. Believe me, nothing except a battle lost can be half so melancholy as a battle won.
All the business of war, and indeed all the business of life, is to endeavour to find out what you don t know by what you do; that s what I call guessing what was at the other side of the hill (The Duke of Wellington)
Summary 1. Plan but be flexible 2. Build a common vision 3. Communicate clearly and unambiguously, using solid intelligence 4. Never underestimate the opposition 5. Be aware your attitudes and assumptions 6. Don t be trapped by past success or failure 7. Be present 8. Select, listen to and trust your subordinates but hold yourself accountable 9. Know when to use reserves 10. Life (and weather) is uncertain deal with it History is written by the victors
There are only two forces in the world the sword and the spirit. In the long run the sword will always be conquered by the spirit.
Contact information Jürgen Oschadleus info@actknowledge.com +61.438.460.464 http://au.linkedin.com/in/oschadleus @Jurgen_O building influential leaders and organisations www.actknowledge.com