17 March 2026

Are you an extrovert or an introvert? The one looks out, the other looks in. Which personality type makes the better minister? One might think the extrovert because he engages with people readily but does his tendency to be the life and soul of the party put him in the centre at the expense of Jesus?

What about the introvert? It is important to nourish an inner life, to be reflective, to enable others to take the lead and to shine. But how well does the introvert engage with the group? Shyness may inhibit the one who inherits a leadership role.

There is a third personality type, the otrovert. They neither look out nor in but  in the other direction. They are good in one-to-one situations. They are empathetic. Their natural detachment enables them to see what needs to be done. They are decisive. They feel more alone in groups but  have a distinct sense of their inner life.

In his book ‘The Gift of Not Belonging’, Dr. Rami Kaminski explores the otrovert and the work best suited to them. Reading his list made me think that ministers were more likely to be otroverts than any other personality type. Consider these four:

A profession where nonconventional thinking is essential for success.

A profession where the otrovert has a clearly defined role that sets them apart from the rest of the group (similar to the way a role helps them in social situations).

A leadership role. Otroverts are natural-born leaders. Inwardly defiant in the face of authority, they would rather tell others what to do than be subject to the rules, regulations and whims of others.

A job that leaves time for creative pursuits and is also itself at least partially a creative pursuit.