How a Good Strategy can fail
Leadership Lessons from Napoleon’s Rise and Fall
Napoleon's overall war strategy stands out as an innovation
01 over conventional war strategies of the time and can be seen as
a blue ocean strategy in military warfare. What are its
distinctive strategic elements? Explain how they fundamentally
diverge from those of traditional war strategies.
• Corps System: Self-contained, flexible units
• Network of Marshals: Decentralized command
• Mastery of Time and Space: Rapid deployment
• "Living off the land": Enhanced mobility
• Eliminate: Rigid formations, Heavy supply lines
• Reduce: Centralized command, Slow movements
• Raise: Flexibility, Speed, Commander autonomy
• Create: Corps system, Empowered marshals, New
supply tactics
02
Do you observe any significant change in Napoleon's overall war
strategy over the battles from Lodi to Waterloo? If yes,
describe what it is ?
• Personal leadership
• Collaborative planning
• Emphasis on troop morale
• Masterful use of deception
• Strategic patience
Napoleon's Later Campaigns
- Russia and Waterloo:
• Increased rigidity in command structure
• Overconfidence in past successful strategies
• Less collaborative planning
• Logistical oversights in challenging territories
• Struggle to adapt to new military and political realities
03
Do you observe any significant changes in the quality of
Napoleon's leadership over the period of his rise and fall? If yes,
what are they?
- Rise:
• Charismatic, hands-on leadership
• Open to input from subordinates
• Clear communication at all levels
• Inspirational to large armies
• Effective delegation to marshals
- Decline
• Increasing isolation from troops and officers
• More autocratic decision-making
• Less receptive to advice and criticism
• Struggle to adapt leadership style to new challenges
• Growing disconnect between strategic vision and battlefield
realities
04
Do you observe any significant changes in the quality of
Napoleon's leadership over the period of his rise and fall? If yes,
what are they?
- Rise:
• Charismatic, hands-on leadership
• Open to input from subordinates
• Clear communication at all levels
• Inspirational to large armies
• Effective delegation to marshals
- Decline
• Increasing isolation from troops and officers
• More autocratic decision-making
• Less receptive to advice and criticism
• Struggle to adapt leadership style to new challenges
• Growing disconnect between strategic vision and battlefield
realities
