Unleashing Success: The Hidden Power of Humble Teams

June 2024

I joined the Marine Corps in the early 1990s. As part of my bootcamp training, I remember learning about how 1st Lieutenant Presley O’Bannon marched across 500 miles of North African desert toward Derna, Libya to 'the shores of Tripoli' to capture and oust the Pasha of Tripoli from his Governor’s Palace fortification, putting a stop to the Barbary pirates’ demands for tributes. These ‘tributes’ included significant payments of gold and even the enslavement of American Sailors. I remember being deeply impressed and inspired by America’s first raising of the American flag on foreign soil, knowing that this wasn’t just any old military officer. It was a United States Marine, a title which I aimed to earn.  

While tales like this inspired Marine recruits to stoically stand tall and just “get ‘er done”, the way it was told left out an important leadership trait: humble teamwork. Leading seven hard charging Marines across hundreds of miles of treacherous desert to fight in hand-to-hand combat against a blood thirsty foe, like a slow-motion scene from the movie 300 (complete with intense electro-orchestral soundtrack), was inspiring to my arrogant and young individualism, but it was simply not the whole story.  

Yes, 1st Lt O’Bannon led seven Marines, but how exactly did they accomplish it? The challenges before them were legion: desert conditions, navigation, supplies, camels, horses, dealing with local tribes, political challenges, not to mention combat operations aimed at conquering a fortress hundreds of miles away. The first key of humble team success was that O'Bannon and his Marines were not alone. They part of a joint coalition task force organized by William Eaton, who spent years during his time as the U.S. Consul of Tunis assembling a diverse force that included around 24 Greek and European mercenaries, 10 artillery men responsible for 2 cannons, and about 50 Arab and Berber cavalry. In addition, this force was supported by about 200 local fighters.  

William Eaton was the general commander, not a military officer, in charge of the entire operation. William Eaton had been a Captain in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. He had served for 17 years and resigned in 1797. He was officially appointed as a “Navy Agent to the Barbary States.” In other words, 1st Lt O’Bannon was led by an experienced Government Civilian. In contrast, O’Bannon was a first tour Marine, having only joined in 1801 and barely 4 years under his belt. O’Bannon needed all the help he could get. Eaton utilized his diplomatic skills to maintain alliances with local leaders, securing necessary supplies and reinforcements for their desert march.  

The epic story of the Battle of Derna provides a rich narrative to explore the leadership principles of a humble team. Here is an outline of eight key principles that young leaders should learn and apply early to ensure mission success. The principles are to get the right person for the job, build an inventory of team strengths, reliance on expertise, patient strategic planning, building and maintaining alliances, adapting to changing conditions, shared goals of a single mission, and humility in leadership. 

Get the Right Person for the Job 

As the coalition force approached Derna, Lt. O’Bannon and William Eaton took advantage of the unique capabilities of each group within the mixed alliance. The Greek mercenaries, who had battlefield experience in both Ottoman revolts and European wars, led the frontal assaults, drawing on their unconventional and asymmetric warfare, artillery, and siege warfare experience. This strategic personnel management practice of “fit-fill” (i.e., fit means matching personnel skills with roles; fill means ensuring those positions are occupied), means that humble teams must rely on the skills and experience of others, maximizing their effectiveness. Today's military operations and defense projects can mirror this approach by assigning roles based on skillset to optimize mission outcomes, enhancing operational efficiency and effectiveness. It sounds obvious, but organizations fail, and employees are unhappy in their jobs because people are in the wrong roles. Identify the skills needed to do the job and invest in finding and developing the best personnel for success. 

Inventory of Team Strengths 

Success at the Battle Derna also relied on cross training of their teams. The historical record of the events of the 1805 campaign are fairly scanty, focusing almost exclusively on Eaton, O’Bannon, the assault on the fort, and the raising of the flag. However, Arab and Berber cavalry would likely have been known for their battlefield agility, flanking maneuvers and the elements of rapid mobility. In addition, these warriors likely provided critical intelligence about local terrain and enemy movements. The U.S. team could not have been successful without integrating knowledge of terrain and tribal factions, logistical resupply points, intelligence regarding enemy, neutral and friendly force compositions, and the plethora of combat skills tailored for a desert environment. This strategic integration of all the skills from the entire team’s inventory was instrumental in the coalition's ability to surround and besiege Derna effectively. Modern organizations should have a detailed skills database and the points of contact on your team that have that background. Spend time developing this list of skills that your personnel have. This will save money trying to learn something by yourself, hiring unnecessarily, avoids reinventing the wheel, and allows for rapid and innovative problem-solving. 

Reliance on Expertise 

The beginning of the end of the siege of Derna was displayed in naval and artillery coordination. The USS Nautilus, USS Hornet, and USS Argus, strategically pre-positioned off the Libyan coast, unleashed a barrage of naval gunfire. Their cannons, booming with unyielding fury, methodically broke down the ancient Ottoman walls that had long defended Derna, shaking the morale of the defenders with each strike. On land, Greek artillerymen operated the field cannons. These experts focused their firepower on weakened sections of the fortress walls, exploiting the chaos sown by the naval bombardment. The precise and coordinated firepower opened breaches that would have been impregnable under normal circumstances. Only after the fortress’s defenses began to crumble were 1st Lt. O’Bannon, his Marines, and hundreds of mercenary infantry able to advance through the smoking ruins. They capitalized on the openings created by their bombardiers, plunging into the heart of the city for close-quarters hand-to-hand combat. The shock and awe of combined naval and land artillery was critical, creating the necessary breaches for an assault that would otherwise likely have failed. This expert orchestration of firepower was indispensable, ensuring that what could have been a protracted siege instead culminated in a decisive and swift victory. Just as artillery proved decisive at Derna, modern organizations must harness the full potential of their specialists to achieve victory. Strategically position your experts where their skills will have the greatest impact in order to break through barriers. Leaders should actively cultivate collaborative environments among specialists, so projects benefit from targeted expertise.  

Strategic Patience and Planning 

The trip across the desert took 50 days, likely traveling about 10 miles per day. The forces gained the most ground during the cool of the mornings and evenings, avoiding the oppressive heat of the day as well as the risks of traveling in the dark. Each halt was more than a water break from a relentless march; it was an opportunity for tactical refinement and reconnaissance. During their stops, Eaton deployed scouts, gathering intelligence on the fortifications and defensive strategies of Derna. This patient planning turned their movement into a carefully choreographed advance toward the objective. During each stop, the coalition was able to physically refresh, and leadership could fine-tune their approach based on the latest intelligence and terrain analysis. This strategic patience and planning ensured that when they finally saw the walls of Derna, Eaton’s forces were ready for the assault. Strategic patience and meticulous planning are essential for today’s leaders. Success requires taking a tactical pause, get a bearing of how the situation has changed, adapting by carefully planning the next steps, and proceed accordingly. This will turn potential chaos into a calculated advantage, minimize resource depletion and maximize efficient execution. 

Forging and Sustaining Strategic Alliances  

In the harsh terrain of North Africa, William Eaton's diplomatic skills were legendary. He navigated a complex web of European mercenaries, U.S. political and militaries policies, and local tribal politics. Utilizing his years of consular experience, Eaton made key alliances with local tribes, securing safe passage and logistical support for the expedition. These alliances provided the coalition with vital supplies, reinforcements, and intelligence on the ground. As Eaton’s forces neared Derna, it was the trust and rapport he and his protégé O’Bannon had built with these tribal leaders that grew their force size and lifted spirits, turning potential adversaries into staunch allies. This coalition building blended military objectives with diplomatic engagement. Today’s leaders, whether in military theaters or corporate boardrooms, must similarly prioritize building and maintaining robust alliances and building coalitions. Strategic partnerships can dramatically extend an organization’s capabilities and reach, turning challenges into opportunities and fostering resilience against unforeseen adversities. The myth of lone heroes only works in movies. In real life, it just doesn’t work. 

Mastering the Art of Tactical Flexibility 

As the siege of Derna unfolded on April 27, 1805, Eaton’s and O’Bannon’s coalition faced fierce resistance from the city’s well-prepared defenders. The initial frontal assaults met with staunch opposition from snipers, small arms fires, and coordinated counter attacks from the Ottoman forces. This threatened to derail the coalition’s momentum. However, the coalition team demonstrated remarkable tactical flexibility, quickly reevaluated their strategy in real-time. They introduced agile siege tactics that included scaling the walls with grappling hooks and ropes, while deploying Arab and Berber cavalry as highly mobile assault teams. This tactical flexibility allowed the U.S. led team to breach the walls, sowing confusion among the defenders and exploiting gaps in their fortifications. This swift pivot from a conventional approach to a more guerrilla-style tactic kept the defenders off balance. Such adaptation under pressure turned the tide of the battle, enabling the coalition to capitalize on the chaos within the enemy ranks and push forward to victory. This level of adaptability is invaluable. Leaders must foster a culture where flexibility is ingrained, and teams are empowered to make quick, decisive changes in dynamic conditions. It's not just about altering strategies; it’s about anticipating challenges and proactively formulating dynamic responses.  

Singular Vision 

Eaton and O’Bannon excelled not just as tacticians but as unifiers. The joint coalition crystallized around a singular, compelling vision: to liberate Derna and restore Hamet Karamanli to power. Hamet Karamanli was the older brother of Yusuf Karamanli, who claimed the title of the Pasha of Tripoli in a coup around 1794. Hamet had been working with Eaton toward this objective for some time. This strategic objective was compelling to many of the coalition forces because it was viewed as a moral imperative. This political reality and singular vision was critical to the alliances and tribal cooperation essential for success. With this mission at the heart of the campaign, the joint coalition bonded behind a common purpose. The clarity and consistency of this message put aside linguage barriers and cultural differences, aiming everyone toward the same goal. This strategy of unification through shared goals is as critical in modern settings as it was on the sands outside Derna. In today's complex operational environments, whether in military engagements or multifaceted corporate projects, aligning teams under a single mission is indispensable. Leaders must articulate clear goals and foster a sense of shared destiny. This establishes a sense of participation in a larger story, driving teams toward success.  

Cultivating Success Through Humble Leadership 

William Eaton and First Lieutenant Presley O’Bannon exemplified humility in their leadership throughout the campaign, including the aftermath of their victory at Derna. They understood that the triumph was not merely a result of their brilliant strategy or personal bravery, but was rooted in the contributions of each segment of their assembled force. Recognizing this, Eaton and O'Bannon publicly acknowledged the vital roles played by the Greek mercenaries, Arab and Berber cavalry, and local fighters, celebrating everyone’s contributions. This act of sharing credit was a gesture of goodwill. It was also a strategic leadership approach that reinforced unity and loyalty among the troops. By highlighting the collective nature of their victory, they fostered a sense of shared purpose and mutual respect across cultural and tactical divides, setting a precedent for future collaboration. Today, this kind of humble leadership is essential. Leaders who acknowledge and value each team member's contribution can enhance group effectiveness and motivate individuals to perform at their best. Such leaders cultivate a team, driving respect, community successes, and creating an environment where many talents achieve common goals. This not only leads to more effective and innovative outcomes but also builds a resilient organization where people feel valued and part of something larger than themselves. 

In conclusion, the story of Eaton, O'Bannon, and their coalition at Derna stands as a testament to the power of the humble team. Their triumph, achieved through shared resolve and mutual respect, highlights that true strength emerges when individuals unite under a common cause. This historical episode serves as a reminder that in both military and civilian endeavors, the most significant victories are those won together. As leaders and team members today, let us draw inspiration from their unity, remembering that the humble team, bound by purpose and respect, is the cornerstone of enduring success. 

Semper Fi.

Andy Y.

Datalytica