The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make

Rating:
Summary: Quick and to the Point
Review: Do not be fooled by size or the title of this book. Small which makes for a quick read and an excellent reference guide. The points that are developed are not rocket science stuff but points that are faced regularly. I have been in leadership positions for over 30 years and truly enjoyed this style of writting. He points out the mistakes and before you know it you are on knees confessing that you have done the same. I especially liked the chapters on "Dirty Delegation" and how it takes the wind out of the sail from any project. Leaders make this error in the name of geting things done. Another favorite of mine is, "Communication Chaos". This sole, small, simple chapter has changed how we communicate in our corporation. More info, relevant info, important info; info; info and more info. This chapter alone has increased our atmosphere of teamwork and productivity. This is a must read for every executive in your company.

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Summary: Leaders Beware!
Review: Finzel's book was written in '94, well before Kotter's "What Leaders Really Do" (written in '99) & Collins' "Good to Great" (written in '01). Finzel "outs" the most immediate perils to any leader's reign (top 10) & did so prior to the market research that Kotter & Collins offer. Kotter & Collins provide the data that supports Finzel's book, but Finzel's text is to the point & more eloquent. Pay special attention to mistakes #2 & 8. In today's corportae culture, not fitting the culture is a deal killer.

Rating:
Summary: Leaders Beware!
Review: Finzel's book was written in '94, well before Kotter's "What Leaders Really Do" (written in '99) & Collins' "Good to Great" (written in '01). Finzel "outs" the most immediate perils to any leader's reign (top 10) & did so prior to the market research that Kotter & Collins offer. Kotter & Collins provide the data that supports Finzel's book, but Finzel's text is to the point & more eloquent. Pay special attention to mistakes #2 & 8. In today's corportae culture, not fitting the culture is a deal killer.

Rating:
Summary: Refreshing, common-sense appraoch to leadership
Review: Hans Finzel makes the case that poor leadership habits are often the byproduct of observing others' poor leadership habits. This book suggests a concise list of such habits for leaders to dissect and change, with anecdotal examples as well as clear action items that can be implemented tomorrow morning.

Generally, Dr. Finzel solves his Top Ten list of mistakes using the strategies of servant leadership (the basis of the author's own success in church leadership), and he supports his writing with Biblical quotes and his own view on modeling one's actions after Christ's.

However, Finzel generally delivers plain-spoken, well-explained concepts that can be employed in most companies and organizations. Whatever your religion, his strategies embrace a positive, ethical approach to leadership that has been glaringly absent in many corporate American cultures in recent years.

This title probably didn't make a bestseller list, but it is a hidden gem for both established and emerging leaders who wish to prevent or improve upon common poor habits -- a refreshing change of pace from the mainstream best-sellers. For the price, it belongs in your leadership library.

Rating:
Summary: Best Power-packed Practical Book on Leadership
Review: Simpy put, if I had to choose only ONE book on leadership to have, this would be it. One, Finzel's book is power-packed and very too-the-point. He wastes little time with redundant examples, but chooses them carefully to illustrate his points. Hence, two, this is a quick read. Three, it is one worth re-reading, and then savoring.

Rating:
Summary: Best Power-packed Practical Book on Leadership
Review: Simpy put, if I had to choose only ONE book on leadership to have, this would be it. One, Finzel's book is power-packed and very too-the-point. He wastes little time with redundant examples, but chooses them carefully to illustrate his points. Hence, two, this is a quick read. Three, it is one worth re-reading, and then savoring.

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Summary: EXCELLENT BOOK FOR 1st LINE AND SENIOR MANAGERS!
Review: This book is not only designed for Christian / Worship leaders but also for the average Manager. I am a first line supervisor in a law enforcement setting and if I didn't know any better I would have bet that Mr. Finzel worked in law enforcement! IT WAS RIGHT ON!! BUY THIS BOOK! IT IS EASY AND EXCELLENT READING!

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Summary: Some very important insights that stand the test of time
Review: This book was written in 1994 and yet when I picked up a copy to read recently it presents concepts absolutely essential to today's corporate environment. This is all the more remarkable considering that his original audience for his book were those in leadership positions in the church. Thus, throughout the book are both organizational and spiritual concepts.

The book is divided neatly into ten chapters, each dealing with a "mistake" and providing the counter examples of how these leadership issues can be reversed to allow for more growth within the organization and better leadership.

The titles of the ten chapters are themselves fascinating and excellent at describing the leadership mistakes. They include; The top-down attitude; Putting paperwork before people work; The absence of affirmation; No room for mavericks; Dictatorship in decision-making; Dirt delegation; Communication chaos; Missing the clues of corporate culture; Success without successors; Failure to focus on the future.

Each of these chapters presents some outstanding insights into how leaders fail to make the most of their people, and get results. One in particular is always the challenge of leadership in most corporations, the "No room for mavericks" describes how the most creative, and insightful of employees are often forced to comply with the inside-the-box thinking of the organizations current status. Of course, without "mavericks" many companies simply fade out of existence, and many others become a shadow of what they once were. Yet today inside many corporations are leaders so focused on compliance and control, that they may control away their futures, and drive those who are innovative away to other places.

This book is simple, straightforward, and completely accurate. Very highly recommended, as nearly every chapter could be a book in itself.


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Summary: This is not a secular discussion of leadership
Review: What none of the reviewers mention is that this is NOT a purely secular discussion of leadership. Finzel takes a Christian approach to leadership effectiveness. For example, when discussing why people tend to rely on an autocratic leadership style, one of the explanations he gives is, "It reflects the depravity of man. Satan began the problem when he wanted to get out from under submission to God the Father. So he rebelled and led his own band of rebels to bring rebellion to the world" (p. 26). Passages from the Bible are used in support of Finzel's advice and many of the examples are drawn from his personal experience in faith-based organizations. I don't have a problem with this per se but I would have preferred to know this in advance. This is not a text that I would be able to use in my organization where religion is considered a personal and private topic.