Inspired by Vernon Howard’s Your Magic Powers of Persuasion
“Would you handle people with more zeal and certainty if you could read their minds? That’s right. You would” Vernon Howard
Vernon Howard loved asking bold questions. They catch you off guard for a moment, then quietly invite you to look inward. His suggestion that we can, in fact, “read minds” sounds like something out of a magician’s handbook — until he explains what he really means.
Then he brings in an old line from William Ellery Channing, the 19th-century philosopher and preacher:
“Every man is a volume, if you know how to read him.”
That’s the heart of Howard’s teaching:
People reveal themselves all the time, not with words, but with presence.
We can become “mind readers” simply by paying close attention.
And that’s when confidence begins to grow.
Reading People Isn’t a Trick — It’s Awareness
If you observe people long enough, patterns emerge.
You learn to recognize:
- The person who hesitates at the door before entering a room
- The one who scans for approval before speaking
- The one whose shoulders carry the weight of a week’s worth of stress
- The one who is eager, curious, open — even if they say nothing at all
These cues aren’t secrets. They’re signals.
Howard’s point is this:
Confidence doesn’t come from dominating a situation. It comes from understanding it.
When you understand the emotional landscape in front of you, your footing becomes steadier. You know how to respond rather than react—and that is absolute confidence.
A Real-World Example: The Monthly Indiana Life Sciences Luncheon
Every month, I attend events hosted by the Indiana Life Sciences Association. They’re well-run, panel-driven discussions about advances in biotechnology, medical research, regulatory issues, and innovations shaping the future of healthcare. Before and after the panel, there’s networking — and a surprisingly good buffet lunch.
I often notice the invisible divide in the room.
On one side, you see the shy and inhibited attendees — intelligent, capable professionals standing alone with a plate in hand, waiting for others to approach them first. They scan the room, hoping someone will break the ice.
On the other side, you see the confident networkers — the gregarious souls who walk right up to someone, extend a hand, and say, “Tell me what brings you here today.” They reconnect with familiar faces. They introduce themselves to new ones. They follow Howard’s advice without ever having read his work:
They read the room, so the room responds to them.
Now, I’m an introvert by wiring. Always have been. But I’ve learned to network well.
Not loudly. Not aggressively.
But intentionally.
If I spot someone standing alone — the “unopened volume,” to return to Channing — I’ll walk over, offer a greeting, and start a conversation. And more often than not, that person relaxes. They open up. They reveal aspects of their work, passion, research, and even their challenges.
In that moment, you’re reading a mind — not by magic, but by attention.
And occasionally? That person becomes a client.
How Mind Reading Builds Confidence
Once you understand this simple truth, everything shifts:
- Most people are relieved when someone else takes the first step.
The shy attendee isn’t aloof; they’re waiting for permission to engage. - Behaviors are clues.
Body language, the way someone holds a coffee cup, even their pace of speech — all reveal how receptive they are. - Awareness quiets your own insecurities.
When you focus on reading others, you stop over-monitoring yourself. - Connection becomes easier because you’re not guessing unthinkingly.
You’re observing. You’re responding. You’re present.
This is what Howard meant:
Mind reading is really the art of seeing.
And when you see clearly, you act confidently.
The Confidence You Want Is Already Within Reach
You don’t need telepathy to handle people with “zeal and certainty.”
You only need to observe them with clarity and goodwill.
At your next meeting, luncheon, or networking event, try this simple exercise:
- Look around the room.
- Notice who’s waiting to be approached.
- Notice who’s eager to connect.
- Notice whose energy is open, nervous, guarded, curious, or enthusiastic.
You’ll be surprised how quickly you can read the whole room.
And you’ll be even more surprised by what happens next.
You’ll feel more confident, because you’ll finally see what’s really going on.
