This blog post discusses the importance of having a clear strategy and plan, as exemplified by the Battle of Waterloo. It notes that both Wellington and Napoleon had strategies for the battle, but Napoleon lost because he stayed behind the lines and was not aware of how the battle was unfolding, unlike Wellington who remained with his soldiers. The post stresses that for businesses to succeed, they need an appropriate plan or strategy to guide the team's actions, just as Wellington knew each soldier's role in achieving the overall strategy through his plan. It concludes by drawing a parallel to instruction manuals, emphasizing the importance of having a plan and revising it regularly to achieve goals.

1. Waterloo some modern lessons

3. Pitch up and fight – why do I need a Plan!
Waterloo?
Posted by Peter on June 5, 2015 in Blog

4. It’s the 200th anniversary of Waterloo this year on June 18th.
A celebration of a great victory for the British, and a disaster
for Napoleon. In fact for the thousands who died it was a
horror. The victory was because Wellington had a clear
strategy, adapted it; he had some luck and was in the heart of
the battle.
The point of this blog is that you need a clear strategy, with a
plan and both army leaders Wellington and Napoleon had
one. Both were previously incredibly successful. On the day
Napoleon lost. It is debatable what happened, from what I
read; Wellington held the higher ground, with many of his
troops largely hidden over the ridge. And was supported by
the Prussians too in this position whilst the French and
Napoleon always optimistic attackers with cannon could not
breach this position.

5. Nothing
Wellington stayed among his soldiers and clearly knew from
his strategy and plan right down to every soldier’s actions,
what was going on. I heard someone the other day refer to
the “strategy” for their business as if it was something once
completed, to be left to a distant group of sages whilst the
workers and expert agencies got on with the business in hand.
Can you imagine Wellington doing that? Napoleon was
certainly at fault, in my view for staying behind the lines and
not seeing what was going on with the fighting. Plus very
often, at Dorset Business Angels where we get people pitching
for money, or with companies where I help with marketing,
there is actually “nothing”. By this I mean, no appropriate
guide fit for purpose to tell the team what to do to make
money. Either a business plan if it is for the whole thing, or a
product plan if it is for a specific item or service.

6. B&Q
I used to be incredibly impetuous when I got stuff back
from DIY shops and smash open the boxes. Then wonder
why the legs or items did not fit together properly. I learnt
my lesson and now do what it says in the instruction
manual. I have a cup of tea and read the manual. A few
times!
Do you have an instruction manual for your task – a plan?
And you probably need to rewrite it weekly, and help with
the “fighting” not just the thinking to make it work.
Peter