The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make

The Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make by Hans Finzel

Leadership has always been one of my short comings. When I was in High School we had a great group of leaders our youth group. Travis Mckinley, Jason Colvin, Lindsey McClellan and Aaron Brent were really good leaders because the set the tone in youth group and led by their examples. Once that class of about 12 seniors graduated; it was mine and my classmates turn to lead the youth group. Needless to say it was a few dry years for leadership (the likes of which it still hasn't quite recovered). As a youth leader myself I still find it difficult to lead my group of sponsors. I really struggle with what to do to train and lead them. We have such a strong and Godly group of Sponsors here at Central Park, that I almost feel as though I should be learning and being led by them instead of the other way around. So I read this book to try to become a better leader.

Since leadership is all about influence; essentially this book marks the 10 mistakes that people make to lose any influence they have.

(1) The Top-Down Attitude: the domineering, autocratic leadership style in use; in contra to a servant-style leadership model. The use of knowledge to keep people in line and in place. Though top-down leadership is easiest to exercise; it breeds contempt and distrust.

(2) Putting Paperwork before Peoplework: Viewing people as opportunities instead of interruptions. The higher we ascend in leadership, the less time we have to invest in people. Experts actually say that effective leaders spend most of their time with people doing people work.

(3) The Absence of Affirmation: Breaking news: people like praise!

(4) No Room for Mavericks: Penning in creative thinkers with rules and regulations. Essentially legislating out the creative process. He points out that the mavericks were the creators of facebook and google. There is a reason college graduates wanted to work for Mac over IBM or a new .com company over a mom-and-pop run organization. Younger generation employees want the room to explore and act. "Mavericks are messes by nature--but good messes-messes that institutions need." He also tracks the lifespan of an organization and shows where mavericks are needed most in the life cycle of an organization.

(5) Dictatorship in Decision Making: Understanding that the major players on a team should have a say in the direction of the organization.

(6) Dirty Delegation: "Overmanagement is one of the cardinal sins of leadership." Giving people tasks and letting them run with it is a chance for them to show their creativity and to feel excited about the path of the organization.

(7) Communication Chaos: Not knowing whose in charge of what and when. Keeping people in the loop.

(8) Missing the Clues of Corporate Culture: Embracing the culture at the organization. Changing the culture when it needs to be changed.

(9) Success without Successors: training up other leaders to replace you. Knowing you wont be here forever.

(10) Failure to Focus on the Future: Not looking ahead. Turing into kodak in a digital camera world.

When I read through this book I realized over the last year I was guilty of at least 8 of them. I still on a weekly basis find myself struggling with these things. But I am trying to practice at least one of them a week so as to further myself in leadership ability.

I don't believe leadership is a natural trait in humanity; but I think it can be developed. This book helped me realize how.