Alignment Over Image

Upon leaving my last leadership role, I’m certain every weakness and flat side I had—not already obvious—became visible. That’s how the cycle of leadership works. It’s humbling, uncomfortable, and deeply clarifying. And ultimately, it’s a gift.

God, in His wisdom, allows leadership to turn over, so that ministries and organizations are not permanently trapped in the blind spots of one person. As leaders come and go, new light is shed, fresh voices are heard, and different strengths emerge. This is God’s grace for the Church and for the generations we serve.

At All Gen, we walk alongside leaders and churches in this honest, healing work of alignment. We believe spiritual maturity does not hide weaknesses, but rather embraces them as a reality which makes us dependent upon God’s power. This means we have to learn to welcome the holy inconvenience of being known in our blind spots and vulnerabilities.

The Temptation to Hide
It is not easy to sit in a senior leadership seat where you are seen, scrutinized, and sometimes misunderstood—before, during, and after your time in the role. But it comes with the calling. You can either resist it or embrace it. One path leads to destruction. The other, to health.

In a ministry world too often shaped by charisma and curated personas, it’s easy to portray a false strength. Some leaders live in constant fear of being criticized, spending their energy managing perception instead of tending to their souls. They receive praise for their gifting, but carry a shaky sense of identity underneath. Eventually, the truth comes out.

This kind of leadership—image-heavy, integrity-light—is not what the next generation needs. It is not what the Church needs. And it is not what Christ calls us to.

As Paul reminds us, “[God’s] power is made perfect in weakness.” If we believe this, we must resist the impulse to hide. We must let God work with the truth of who we are in the community of others.

Embracing Truth-Tellers
Even when we choose to be vulnerable, we must remain alert. It is possible to expose our weaknesses and still fall into self-deception—or worse, to exploit others because of our unresolved wounds.

If you want to grow as a ministry leader, let me tell you the one thing that saved my leadership again and again: I had someone on my team who refused to tell me what I wanted to hear.

She spoke inconvenient truths. She held me to high standards and wouldn’t allow integrity to slip—even a little. She was not impressed by my title or tempted to flatter. She was committed to the truth, and that kind of person is a rare and priceless gift.

The instinct to surround ourselves with “yes-men” is strong—especially under stress or scrutiny. But it is foolish and dangerous. Ministries that enable flattery and fear will pass along dysfunction to the next generation. Ministries that tell the truth in love model Christ’s ways in the mess of the world.

At All Gen, we teach leaders to build cultures of transparency and truth—not just for their congregations, but for their employees and spiritual descendants. Without alignment, like the plumb line described in the book of Amos, our legacy is not on track with God’s purposes in the world.

Creating a Culture of Accountability
We tell ministry leaders regularly: Create a team culture of truth-telling. Find people who don’t need to “believe the best about you”—because they’re more committed to your health than your image.

This is what healthy leadership looks like. This is what protects a ministry from slow compromise and gives the generations a compelling picture of a healthy faith family.

It will not be convenient. It will slow things down. It will sting. But the alternative—having people quietly make accommodations for your blind spots while keeping quiet—is far more dangerous. Just as at home in our families, that path leads to generational wounding.

Generational Implications
At All Gen, we believe every spiritual leader is shaping more than a congregation; they are shaping the emotional and spiritual inheritance of the next generation.

What happens in the shadows of leadership does not stay hidden. It echoes. It passes on in the blood lines of faith. But so does a transformational model of integrity, humility, and surrender.

This is how the Church is renewed: when older generations model confession and courage, and younger generations are empowered to lead with health and wholeness.

So today, I want to thank the colleague who gave me the holy inconvenience of truth. You protected me and who I might have become in leadership without you. You equipped and prepared me to be faithful with more in the future.

At All Gen, we work to change church culture to an alignment that nurtures generational faith. If you are a ministry leader or church seeking to build a healthy culture across generations with your staff or congregation, we’d love to walk alongside you.

Adapted from Lisa Haller Liou's original post on “Woman on the Front Line,” October 10, 2024