Staff initiative, the Battle of the Bulge, and Nelson under Jervis

When has someone making a unilateral decision on another person's behalf produced a better result?

The examples are a tentative recollection about the staff encouragement behind "Nuts!" and Nelson exploiting an opening under Jervis, whose tolerance depended on success.

The answer first recalls the German surrender demand during the Battle of the Bulge and the reply of "Nuts!" It tentatively credits a chief of staff with encouraging the commander to respond as he wished, although the names in this recollection are unclear. The naval example is Nelson as a captain, spotting an opening and breaking from the expected line to attack. Jervis is described as accepting that initiative if it succeeded and threatening a court-martial if it failed. The example presents freedom to act as conditional on accepting responsibility for the result.