Beyond the Wind: Naval Tactics Change, but Principles Remain Resolute

In the age of sailing, the wind was super important. A sea captain had to understand and study the weather to navigate the ship. Steering a ship during calm weather and non-conflict situations was much different than during times of conflict.

A naval ship captain had to ensure precision under extreme stress during a battle with enemy vessels, and the crew's lives depended on understanding the wind and gaining advantage by using the wind. But the wind was only one component in an adventure at sea. Leaders had to understand the principles of success, and those principles still apply today. You don't have to be a ship captain to benefit from success principles.

Principles do not change over time, and they are fundamental truths. From the age of sailing, we can learn by looking at the principles of “practice” to become skilled and the principles of “communication timing.” Think about your life. Are those same principles important today?

Weather Gage

While researching navigating the sea during the age of sailing, I found a letter to the editor from Mr. Alex. Slidell Mackenzie in The Evening Post, New York, Wednesday, April 7, 1841. In the letter, Mr. Mackenzie describes the British naval tactic of using a weather gage.

A weather gage is a situation where a ship positions itself in a windward position. In other words, a ship in a weather gage position could steer and be pushed directly to an opponent because of the wind and the ship's sails. Mr. Mackenzie shared that the British felt this gave them an advantage in the time of engagement and pace of the fight. A lot of skill is required to navigate ships into position. Naval crews learned skills through repetitive training to perfect the weather gage.

Weather Gage

The Timeless Principles of Practice

Becoming an expert at anything requires practice. The principles of becoming highly effective through practice have remained the same over time. Naval crews 400 years ago understood the importance of training just as any successful person today.

If weather gage was essential to a navy, they had to demonstrate proficiency before the battle. Different scenarios were a part of the practice process. How do you utilize weather gage with varying types of wind directions? Practicing in various wind conditions and locations prepared sailors for conditions of combat. They had to know how to gain the advantage.

Ask any person with superior skills. They will tell you it took much time and practice to obtain a skill level above others. Like ancient navy crews, we must practice the fundamentals repeatedly to become proficient. There is no easy way to become skilled. You have to put in the time.

Communication Timing Principles

Ancient navies had to utilize the wind in their sails to position in the weather gage. The skill becomes even more challenging when there's more than one ship. Imagine the communication challenge with many ships moving in coordination. Communication was vital.

The ships communicated using signal flags, semaphores, or other visual communication methods. There was no technology to pick up a radio and talk to someone on another ship.

Historical records also show the importance of communication on one ship. The captain needed help to operate a ship. Visual signals, voice commands, and pre-established signals were communication methods. Pre-established drum or trumpet sounds would alert the crew about what to do. Everyone had to be ready for the next command.

How we communicate has changed today, but the timing principle remains fundamental. If you work in a team, you know how important it is to coordinate activities. The only way to accomplish this is through high levels of communication.

Consider the modern-day human resources department. A lot of confidential information comes from that type of department. They must communicate information at the right time. Imagine poor communication where the director of human resources announces to the organization the name of the new Chief Executive Officer before the person's acceptance to the position and authorization of the board. Directors disclosing unauthorized information would be ineffective.

Look for the Principle

I enjoy looking for the principle. Even though things have changed drastically from the age of all sail navies to now, principles have remained the same. Communication timing is as important now as it was then. Teams and individuals can only become highly effective by practicing. Being skilled takes time. We can gain an advantage by learning and applying principles just as ancient navies utilized the advantage of the weather gage.

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