Review: The Top Ten Leadership Commandments

Hans Finzel, CEO of the nonprofit WorldVenture, was ready to quit. His three-page resignation letter was written. But before sending it, he decided to study the life of Moses. Having read everything by and about Moses in the entire Bible, Finzel sat down and created a top 10 list of the things Moses did in leadership. And then, rather than quitting his position, he took the lessons of Moses and applied them. Then, as Aaron might say, out came this book.

Part Bible study, part business book, The Top Ten Leadership Commandments (David C Cook, 2012) is at least as much about Finzel’s own journey as it is about Moses’ epic leadership role, and the work is marked by honesty rather than brilliance. Some of the advice is obvious—“Thou shalt not serve thine own ego” and “Thou shalt practice servant leadership.” Some of it is not obvious at all, especially Finzel’s diagnostic tools to help readers determine whether to remain in their current leadership role. As a leader who is on the edge of retirement, Finzel speaks with particular clarity to this issue, and the chapter on “Thou shalt lead to leave” is a goldmine for any leader struggling with whether he is in the right position.

The publisher categorizes Finzel’s work as “Religion/Christian Life/Professional Growth,” and it will only appeal to readers equally interested in all three of those. Its niche in the vast throng of business books is relatively simple: It is an autobiographically heavy book with an evangelical, quasi-mystical, and even devotional flavor, targeted to pastors as well as businessmen. Thus, it contains suggestions on daily prayer times and on how to take vacations.

The best part of the book is its strong practicality. All of the advice it contains is good advice—Finzel’s teaching is proven to work. The hard part is implementing it.