It is serendipity that, after my post yesterday about ministry not being an Olympic sport, I ran across this one today titled: Overcoming Charisma by Robert Rowland Smith. The Smith’s point is that there is a difference between charisma and presence. For a leader, the quality of presence is much more valuable.
 

Obviously enough, the person who has presence is present, i.e., there’s nothing he or she is not bringing into the room, no sense of being preoccupied or distracted, no absence to dilute the being there. It’s even more compelling than charisma, for the person blessed with true presence makes you feel that the most important thing in the world is happening right here, right now. The person with presence, in other words, is a living event.

Smith says that presence is a far more practical attribute. While the charismatic leader is often attracting attention to him or herself, the leader with presence is focused on being present for the problem that needs to be solved.
 
What do you think? In your experience, which trait is more valuable in ministry—charisma or presence?

One Response to “Charisma vs. presence—which is more valuable for ministry?”

1. Veronica Biddle says:

   February 26, 2010 at 4:54 pm

   I like this man’s thinking! “the person with presence…is a living event…..His immersion in the urgency of what is brings others in; it compels them into sharing his agenda”. Oh that we could have leaders with presence – but not all do. However, it would not go astray to include a consideration and understanding of “presence” in all leadership training. It might be a gift to some, but some aspects of ‘presence’ could be encouraged, developed and learnt by all those in leadership positions.