  A non-perturbative calculation of the effective thermal potential between
heavy $Q$ and $\bar Q$ from lattice QCD is difficult, and usually involves a
Bayesian analysis. Here we present a simple method to obtain the potential from
smeared Wilson loop, using the structure of the thermal Wilson loop. We present
results for the $Q \bar Q$ thermal potential in a gluonic plasma for
temperatures $\lesssim 2 T_c$. We also present preliminary results for the
effective potential when the $Q$ and $\bar Q$ are in octet color configuration.
