There’s an old story from the Wild West that perfectly illustrates leadership.
A group of Apache warriors once attacked a cavalry unit and came across something they had never seen before — a heavy iron safe. They knew it had value. They knew there was treasure inside. But they had no idea how to open it.
They tried everything. They beat it with rocks, struck it with tomahawks, roasted it in fire, drowned it in a river, and even packed gunpowder around it. Nothing worked. Finally, the chief had an idea: “Throw it off a cliff.” They did. And still, it did not open.
Frustrated and defeated, they left the safe behind.
Days later, an army unit came through the same area. They found the safe, took a few minutes to study it, turned the dial a few times, and unlocked it easily. The gold was still inside.
The Leadership Lesson
Every organization is full of hidden potential. Just like that safe, there’s incredible value sitting right in front of you — your people — waiting to be unlocked.
Most leaders know their team has talent, but too often they struggle to access it. They try to motivate through meetings, incentives, or management techniques. But if you don’t understand your team’s unique “combination,” all that effort feels like hitting the safe with a rock.
Real leadership is about discovering that combination. It’s about understanding how to bring out the best in everyone so the entire team thrives.
Step One: Know Your People
Every person on your team has a story, a set of strengths, and a rhythm that makes them tick. But you cannot find it from behind your desk or buried in reports. You have to connect.
Ask questions.
What drives you?
What part of your work gives you energy?
Where do you want to grow?
When people feel seen and heard, they open up. When they open up, you find the clues to their combination.
Step Two: Put the Right People in the Right Seats
A common mistake in leadership is forcing the wrong person into the wrong role. You can’t expect an introverted, detail-oriented employee to shine in an outbound sales position. You can’t expect a big-picture visionary to thrive in a spreadsheet.
As leaders, it’s our job to align strengths with responsibilities. When you put people in the right seats, motivation and productivity rise naturally. The safe opens because you’ve matched the right code.
Step Three: Challenge and Empower
Once you’ve unlocked someone’s strengths, don’t stop there. Great leaders don’t just find potential — they develop it.
Challenge your people to stretch beyond what feels comfortable. Encourage them to lead projects, share ideas, and take ownership. The more ownership they have, the more pride they take in their work.
And when that happens, something remarkable shifts: your role evolves from “manager” to “multiplier.” You’re no longer driving the team alone; you’re empowering a team that drives itself.
Step Four: Keep Turning the Dial
Unlocking potential isn’t a one-time act. It’s an ongoing process. People grow. Roles change. Businesses evolve.
That means you must keep asking, listening, and learning. Have quarterly check-ins. Celebrate progress. Revisit goals. Realign where needed.
Just like the safe’s combination, your team’s formula for success can change over time. Stay curious. Keep adjusting until it clicks.
The Gold Within
When you finally unlock your team’s potential, you discover something more valuable than performance metrics or profit margins.
You uncover trust.
You uncover loyalty.
You uncover belief — in you, in themselves, and in the mission of your business.
That’s the true gold.
Don’t be like the Apache’s, pounding on the safe and wondering why it won’t open. Sit down. Learn the code. Listen to your people.
Because when you take the time to understand your team, you don’t just open the safe — you unleash a treasure that multiplies far beyond what you ever imagined.
Final Thoughts
Leadership isn’t about being the smartest person in the room. It’s about being curious enough to discover the brilliance that’s already there.
So, here’s your challenge: This week, pick one person on your team and take time to learn their combination. Ask deeper questions. Listen to what lights them up. Then, turn that knowledge into action.
When you do, you won’t just unlock their potential — you’ll unlock yours too.
COACH MICHAEL DILL is an Award-Winning Certified Business Coach, global speaker, and published author. He is a proud ActionCOACH Franchise Partner as well as the President of Power & Ice Wealth Creation, a strategic leadership company that works with business owners, leaders, teams, and entrepreneurs to build systematized, structured organizations while accelerating mindset, efficiency, and effectiveness to achieve extraordinary results.
BusinessCoachMichaelDill.com