The Power of Presence
We live in a world that rewards speed, noise, and multitasking.
Our calendars stay full, our phones are always within reach, and our attention is constantly being pulled toward whatever is urgent in the moment.
But distraction has a cost—especially in leadership.
When our focus drifts, so does the focus of those we lead.
Presence isn’t just personal; it’s formative. It shapes teams, culture, and trust. And it’s one of the simplest, most overlooked ways we reflect Christ in the way we lead.
The Moment That Convicted Me
Not long ago, I caught myself in a meeting—leading, talking, multitasking—but not truly there.
I was guiding the conversation, answering questions, nodding at the right moments. On the surface, everything looked fine. But quietly, I was also skimming an email I had convinced myself “couldn’t wait.”
In that moment, I realized how easy it is to be active without being attentive.
I wasn’t trying to be dismissive or disrespectful. I was just moving fast, trying to keep up with everything coming at me. But my lack of attention said something I didn’t intend to say.
And if we’re honest, I think we’ve all had moments like that as leaders.
We show up physically—but our minds are somewhere else.
We’re in the room—but not really with the people in it.
Activity Isn’t Engagement
Somewhere along the way, we started confusing busyness with effectiveness. We measure how full our schedules are, how many projects we’re touching, how quickly we’re responding.
But busyness doesn’t build trust—attention does.
People remember how present we were long after they forget what we said.
They may not recall every detail of the meeting, but they will remember whether they felt seen, heard, and valued.
Presence is what turns a conversation into connection.
Without it, our leadership risks becoming efficient, but empty.
Martha, Mary, and the Better Portion
There’s a moment in Scripture that speaks directly into this tension between activity and attention.
“But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’”
— Luke 10:41–42, ESV
It’s important to honor what’s actually happening in this passage.
Martha wasn’t wrong for working. Someone had to prepare the meal. Hospitality mattered. Her desire to serve Jesus was sincere.
But in her striving to serve Him, she nearly missed sitting with Him.
Jesus wasn’t rebuking her work ethic—He was redirecting her attention.
He was gently calling her from anxiety and distraction back to what mattered most in that moment: His presence.
Her activity was good.
Mary’s focus was better.
That scene isn’t primarily about workplace distractions or leadership habits; it’s about a heart that’s invited to choose what is most important in the presence of Christ.
But the principle is still deeply relevant for us as leaders today:
Presence always begins with priorities.
What we give our attention to reveals what we value most.
What It Means for Leaders
The same invitation that Jesus extended to Martha still stands for us.
Even in leadership, it’s easy to be busy for people but not truly with them.
To respond to emails, move projects forward, and keep everything spinning—while quietly drifting away from the people we’re actually called to serve.
Presence isn’t about doing less. It’s about being fully there with the people in front of you.
For years, both as a pastor and now as a leader in the workplace, I’ve come back to a simple phrase:
Your presence matters.
Sometimes the most meaningful thing you can give isn’t an answer or a solution—it’s simply you, fully present.
When leaders give their full attention, they give dignity.
Meetings gain meaning.
Conversations carry trust.
Distraction fractures all of that.
Presence reminds people they matter more than the task.
Wisdom from Experience
Leadership thinkers have been circling this idea for a long time. Patrick Lencioni puts it plainly:
“If you can’t be fully present with the people you lead, you’ll eventually lose the right to lead them.”
— Patrick Lencioni
That’s a strong statement—but it’s true.
Our teams don’t need us to be everywhere. They need us to be here.
Not half in the room and half in our inbox.
Not nodding along while our mind is already in the next meeting.
Not physically present but emotionally unavailable.
Leadership presence isn’t about charisma or being the loudest voice.
It’s about attention. It’s the steady, quiet power of showing up fully—in the meeting, in the conversation, in the moment.
A Leader’s Challenge
So here’s a simple challenge for this week:
Slow down.
Be where your feet are.
Lead with your eyes, your ears, and your heart.
That might look like:
Putting the phone face-down during a 1:1.
Closing the laptop in a team conversation.
Pausing before you respond so you can really listen.
Giving someone your full attention when they walk into your office.
People may appreciate how efficient you are—
but they’ll remember how present you chose to be.
In a world that constantly pulls us away from the moment we’re in,
presence is one of the most powerful ways we can start strong and lead well.
