Leadership Through a Clear View: Where Transparency Ends and Wisdom Begins

There’s no shortage of leadership advice out there. Scroll through any leadership book, podcast, or social media feed and you’ll run into a common phrase- “Great leaders are transparent.”

And that’s true right?

Transparency builds trust. It invites accountability. It disarms fear and builds unity.

But here’s the dilemma no one really talks about:

Where is the line between transparency and oversharing?

When does being “real” with your team become a burden on the very people you're trying to lead?

When does your attempt to be relatable actually undermine your role as the one responsible for providing direction and strength?

The Weight of the Window

Think of leadership like a window.

People need to see through it.

They need clarity.

They need to know you’re human, that you wrestle with things too, that you don't have it all figured out. "That kind of vulnerability in the birthplace for connection" as Brené Brown would say.

But if the window is too wide open, if every crack and flaw is on display without purpose or context, the weight of that view can actually crush morale.

Your people - whether they’re employees, volunteers, your own kids, or church members, don’t need to carry the weight of your entire internal process. They just need to know they’re not alone in theirs.

The Silent Strength of Discernment

So going back to the adage “great leaders are transparent” certainly gives us a bit of direction as leaders.

But Scripture gives us something a little deeper:

“Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.” – Proverbs 17:28

This isn’t a call to secrecy. It’s a call to discernment.

You can be honest without bleeding in front of your team.

You can be transparent without being emotionally unfiltered.

You can lead with authenticity and restraint, those things are not enemies to each other.

So Where’s the Line?Here’s a rule of thumb I live by:

If what I’m about to share is for their benefit, wisdom, perspective, and direction then share it.

If it’s just to make me feel better, hold it.

Not everything your people could know, they should know.

Your doubts, your burnout, your financial stress, your fight with your spouse the night before, those things are real. But sometimes, being a leader means finding a private place to process them first, leaning on trusted peers or mentors, or even taking a day to regroup, rather than placing that weight on your team. That way, you can lead your people with clarity and strength, not confusion and frustration.

They don’t need perfection. But they do need stability.

A Transparent Leader is Not a Fragile One.

Being transparent doesn’t mean spilling every detail of your life to prove you’re human.

It means showing and speaking truth, truth that helps, equips, builds up, and gives others permission to grow.

Real leadership knows the difference between bearing one another’s burdens and burdening others unnecessarily.

You can lead with openness and maturity.

You can be honest and anchored.

You can be vulnerable and still the one people look to for hope, help, and direction.

Lead well. Stay rooted. Keep your window clear, but not wide open.

- Shepherd’s Way Leadership