Nelson & His World

I've just had a Google Alert about Jonathan Gifford’s book, 'History Lessons: What Business and Managers Can Learn from the Movers and Shakers of History.'

Horatio Nelson's great attribute as a leader, he says, was : “Leading from the front.” Demonstrate to your followers that you are willing to do everything you ask them to do, ie: get your hands dirty.'

Well, it's certainly true that Nelson led by example, but is it the predominant characteristic of Nelson's leadership? Any comments?

A few more features of Nelson's leadership style that should be copied more often by others who should lead people:

His taking the lead from the front proved, that he was willing to share the risk for life and limbs with his people.

I never read about Nelson blaming one of his subordinates publicly for any mistakes commited by them or himself.

But I think his most prominent feature was trust in his subordinates. I am of the opinion that - as his major battles show - he is another inventor of the notorious Auftragstaktik. He always made sure that his captains knew his intentions by heart, understood them and shared his tactical and operational aims. In addition he encouraged them to use their own initiative in order to achieve these overall aims and took care that their services were rewarded.

It's as easy as that oh you men of power...

I think another remarkable quality found in great leaders is the art of making the people you work with feel important, not only as members of a team, but as individuals. Nelson knew how people ticked, and how to approach them. For example, he knew Captain Keats was a 'worrier' and sent him a soothing note to reassure him when his ship was having trouble keeping up. He also handled Keats' quarrel with Captain Murray over the supply of hammocks with great skill, not taking sides, but showing an understanding of each man's difficulties and allowing the two antagonists to appreciate the other's problems. A.T. Mahan quotes 'a contemporary who knew Nelson well' (Sir William Hotham):

'He [Nelson] had in a great degree the valuable but rare quality of conciliating the most opposite of tempers and forwarding the public service with unanimity among men not of themselves disposed to accord.'

His letter to Keats on this occasion is a model of tact:

Victory, March 30th 1805
To Captain Keats,
Most private,

My dear Keats,

I felt most exceedingly last night, at finding your friend Admiral Murray so exceedingly hurt at some conversation which had passed between you and him, about hammocks. I can most solemnly assure you, that so far from Admiral Murray withholding any stores from the Superb, that he would stretch the point to comply with your wishes, well knowing that in our scanty supplies you would take no more than was absolutely necessary for present use. The Superb, upon every consideration, whether I consider the value of her Captain as an officer, or the importance of preserving her ship’s company, ought to have every comfort which the Service will possibly allow. I have, therefore, desired that Admiral Murray will get from you an account of the number of hammocks wanted to complete the Superb for the Channel Service, that I may send to Naples to purchase them; and I again assure you that Admiral Murray would stretch any length which you could desire, to meet your wants and wishes. The situation of first Captain is certainly a very unthankful office, for if there is a deficiency of stores, he must displease probably the whole fleet; for no ship can have her demands complied with. I wish, my dear Keats, you would turn this in your mind, and relieve Admiral Murray from the uneasiness your conversation has given him; for I will venture to say, that if he could (or ought to) show a partiality, it would be to the Superb, because her captain husbands the stores in a most exemplary manner. You will readily conceive what I must feel upon this occasion, being most truly your most obliged and faithful friend.



Joseph Nagle notes Nelson's technique after a successful action: unlike other captains, who would address the ship's company en masse, Nelson would go down to the gun decks, shake each man by the hand and thank him personally for his efforts. Several biographers also note that Nelson, when mobbed by crowds at home, would often spot an old shipmate and call him forward for a friendly word (and a guinea coin), and was always prepared to help a fellow seaman in need ( his testimony on behalf of Captain Macnamara and the seaman James Carse when each stood trial for murder are examples.)

Such concern for each individual under his command surely contributed to the loyalty that Nelson always engendered in his fleet.

In a nutshell, the idea that the major feature of leadership is 'to lead from the front' is too far too narrow. I have always believed that 'leadership is about being followed'. No good climbing the sides of a warship waving a flag if everyone else stays in the boat! An essential quality in a leader is his ability to understand those being lead, to establish a rapport and to inspire them with confidence. As pointed out, Nelson had all these qualities in abundance.

Brian

I received this Google alert this morning about how Nelson's skills can be translated into good business practice:

http://www.snohomishcountybusinessjourn ... 50/-1/SCBJ