When my son and I joined a 17-person mission team to Malawi this summer, we knew the days would be long, full, and unforgettable.
What we didn’t know?
That we’d spend an unexpected night in Ethiopia.
Our travel hiccup wasn’t part of the plan. But as we sat in that airport, waited in lobbies, and adjusted our expectations, something became crystal clear:
In leadership, presence is more powerful than productivity.
We live in a world that worships hustle, output, and squeezing every ounce of productivity from our calendars.
But presence is what people really remember.
It’s easy to measure what gets done. But it’s harder—and maybe more important—to measure how well we show up.
When we finally arrived in Malawi, our team wasn’t just on a mission to build things, preach messages, or run events.
We were on a mission to be there.
- To see people.
- To share in laughter.
- To worship side by side.
- To paint walls, dance in dust, and sit in the sun together.
Productivity may change systems.
But presence changes hearts.
And whether you’re leading in a nonprofit, business, school, or church, this applies to you too.
You can’t always control delays or disruptions. But you can always control the way you show up.
✅ Show up curious.
✅ Show up calm.
✅ Show up compassionate.
Because the leaders people remember are the ones who made them feel seen—not just the ones who got the most done.
Micah Foster, Co-Owner
Micah Foster is a partner at Dream Support LLC who has been providing remote executive assistants to busy leaders who need administrative and organizational help for over five years.
He has a passion for creating and maintaining positive and productive work environments and empowering people to reach their full potential.