Though a profound student of Clausewitz, Foch did not, like Clausewitz's German successors, believe in a foolproof schedule of battle worked out in advance. Rather he taught the necessity of perpetual adaptability and improvisation to fit circumstances. "Regulations," he would say, "are all very well for drill but in the hour of danger they are no more use.… You have to learn to think." To think meant to give room for freedom of initiative, for the imponderable to win over the material, for will to demonstrate its power over circumstance.
Ferdinand Foch, a notable student of Clausewitz, diverged from the belief held by some German military theorists regarding fixed battle plans. Instead, he emphasized the importance of flexibility and the ability to adapt strategies in real-time according to the situation at hand. Foch believed that while regulations are useful for training, they become ineffective in true combat situations.
He argued that successful leadership requires the capacity to think critically and allow for initiative, acknowledging that unpredictable elements can influence outcomes. Foch championed the idea that a strong will and the ability to improvise are crucial for overcoming challenges on the battlefield.
