Napoleon and pragmatic leadership– Paris

NAPOLEON WAS NOT A GREAT VISIONARY LEADER, BUT HE WAS UNPRECENDENTED WHEN IT CAME TO THE ABILITY TO DELIVER. THE VISION WAS BORN THROUGH THE REVOLUTION, NAPOLEON IMPLEMENTED IT. THE EFFECT OF HIS LEADERSHIP CONTINUES TO RESOUND TO THIS DAY. HE SHONE AS A STRATEGIST, TACTICIAN AND ADMINISTRATER, AND FEW CAN MATCH THE SINCERE CONTACT HE HAD WITH HIS SOLDIERS.

Using Napoleon as a standard we challenge your abilities to act and break out of the framework of your own and your surroundings’ ever-present limitations. Napoleon succeeded in devising strategy and implementing it in extreme detail. Few can rival the short, pot-bellied Corsican when it comes to clarity of vision, organizatorial talent and planning consistency. His ability to think through the consequences of every aspect – from objectives to strategy to tactics to implementation – was phenomenal. And the core of this, which for the majority will come as a surprise, was his pragmatic leadership ability. 

Themes of relevance include: 

  • When visions are not enough: the ability to turn plans into actions.
  • The missing link between strategic and operative leadership.
  • Effective leadership: Lucid or scatter-brained in dealing with causal mechanisms. 
  • Domino-effect: Winning the battle to win the war.
  • Death by bureaucracy: A lack of flexibility and speed.
  • Operative narrow-mindedness: Measures without strategic connections.
  • Pragmatic leadership: What is it possible to do in a critical situation?

Steinar's story telling skills bring to life the lessons of leadership in the backdrop of historic leadership figures; an inspiration to the whole organisation.

Grethe Moen, President & CEO, Petoro