October 30, 2026

Business by the Book

Proverbs 20:5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

Understanding of people goes a long way toward earning success. Great leaders usually become successful in business. One of the things most great leaders have in common is the ability to understand people. To place the right individuals in key positions of responsibility requires the ability to understand others.

Sometimes that which a person really is is buried so deep in their heart and soul that it takes a person of great understanding to draw it out. There are leaders who through their understanding can pull out of people greatness that they themselves do not even know they have. This is what helps make a great team - a leader who can maximize each person’s deeply seated potential. Below are several tips to finding those deeply hidden abilities.

Listen. Simply listen. Not to the surface words, but to the meaning of the words. Sometimes leaders, so called, are so busy speaking that they cannot hear what others are saying.

Ask questions. Not only ask questions to the person who is speaking but also questions of yourself. Why did they choose that word? Where is that attitude coming from? How do they feel? Do their words mirror their actions?

Put them to a test. A story was told of a man who hired a new employee. Upon the first day of work the employer asked the man to dig a huge hole in an empty lot. The next day the owner of the business asked the man to fill up the hole. This went on for about a week. Finally the new employee said, “I was not hired to dig and fill holes, how long am I expected to do this work?”  The owner said, “It stops today. If you had complained any earlier you would be a whiner, if you had not performed the work you would be rebellious, and if you had not challenged me today you would be weak.”  The owner was testing the new employee. Try this today and most, if not all, would fail the test.

Train. Train don’t complain.

Encourage. As a pastor, I can say that most people do not overestimate their ability (although some do), but most people underestimate their ability. “I can’t” they say. But they can: you know.

Great leaders dig out the hidden talents and abilities of others, this brings new and greater success to both.

Dr. William Howe