Creative Execution: What Great Leaders Do to Unleash Bold Thinking and Innovation

Let Every Man Do His Duty

After spotting the enemy coming out of Cadiz the morning of October 21, Nelson divided his fleet into two columns that would each drive a wedge through the center of the Combined Fleet, isolate the most powerful French and Spanish ships, and let his captains pounce on their victims using superior, concentrated firepower. Due to the very light winds off the cape, the English columns took over 90 minutes to make their way to the center of the Combined Fleet, during which the French and Spanish could fire at will against the oncoming vessels. Amazingly, during this slow creep toward the Combined Fleet, only one English ship, the Mars, was put out of action, her masts shot away and her captain beheaded by a stray shot. The ...