Develop a two-page summary of the key points of this reading.
Creative Execution Eric Beaudan Odgers Berndtson, Canada Enic Beaudan is the leadership Assessment Practice Director at Odgers Berndtson, one of Canada's largest executive search firms. This article is extracted from his forthcoming book, Creative Execution. Call it unconventional or unorthodox, but Creative Execution-which can be all of these things-is company sharply and take it to previously unattainable heights. Leaders designed to differentiate the will understand why and how after they've read this article. days ire your imagination and travel back to flagship, Villeneuve commits suicide a few another time, more than 200 years ago. after the battle. Napoleon's dreams of European The year is 1805 and almost all of Europe hegemony are shattered in one fell swoop. lies within Napoleon Bonaparte's grasp. Only European domination: England. With 200,000 crack troops assembled in northern France, the Emperor is counting on Admiral Villeneuve to join forces with the Spanish and secure the Straits of Dover for the force that will invade England. Surveying the scene, the Emperor says, Let us be masters of the Straits for six hours and we shall be masters of the world." How did Nelson achieve such an overwhelming victory? The answer is that Nelson mastered what I call Creative Execution-the ability to execu te a strategy so well conceived, understood and embraced by all that it almost guarantees a successful outcome, even against the odds. Nelson's captains knew that they were going to Standing in the way of Napoleon's grandiose win before the battle even started. They called scheme is the Royal Navy's most capable admi their approach, quite simply, the Nelson Touch ral, Horatio Nelson, who had already decimated the French fleet that escorted Napoleon's army Nelson sought to not just defeat the Combined to Egypt in 1798, and pursued the French fleet from North Africa to the West Indies and back. Admiral Villeneuve is well aware of Nelson'?s prowess. Although his fleet bristles with 33 ships of the line, including the first-rate Spanish ship April) 2010, Volume (74), Number (2). Richard Ivey School of Santissina Trinidad, the world's largest warship Business Foundation prohibits any form of reproduction, storage with 130 guns Villeneuve knows that Nelson's 27 armisio of this afer The Nelson Touch was anything but gentle. Fleet but to crush it. Instead of the traditional line of battle." in which two parallel lines #9B10TB07, Ivey Business Journal (March, or transmission of this material without its written permission. This By Eric Beaudan, Reprint men-of-war are in peak fighting condition. material is not covered under authorization from any reproduction When Nelson finally catches Villeneuve off reproduce materials, contact Ivey Publishing, Richard Ivey School of Cape Trafalgar the morning of October 21, 1805, Business Foundation, The University of Western Ontario, London, he achieves a monumental victory. The English 3882, e-mail cases@ive.uwo.ca. Copyright O2010 Richard Ivey ink or capture 18 French ships, with over 14,000 School of Business Foundation. One time French and Spanish killed in action, 10 times granted by Richard Ivey School of more than the English. Taken prisoner aboard his rights organization. To order copies or request permission to Ontario, Canada N6A 3K7; phone (S19) 661-3208, fax (519) 661- November 11, 2010
