Just released April 1st, 2017 by David C Cook Publishing

After 30 years in the trenches of leadership, we thought it was time to ask the question, “What are the most essential skills every new leader should master?” We came up with an acrostic for the word LEADERSHIP. Each chapter of this book, 10 chapters in all, outlines a critical skill/behavior that every leader must master. Hans’ bestseller, “Top 10 Mistakes Leaders Make” is about pitfalls to avoid. This follow up book is about the other side of the coin – the essential skills every new leader needs to be successful.

Here are the ten chapters

1. “L” Is for Listen and Learn
2. “E” Is for Emotional Intelligence
3. “A” Is for Accessibility
4. “D” Is for Determination
5. “E” Is for Effective Communication
6. “R” Is for Resilience
7. “S” Is for Servant Attitude
8. “H” Is for Hands Off Delegation
9. “I” Is for Integrity
10. “P” Is for the Power of Humility

Listen to the very short video on why I wrote this new book

Click on the image above to get to the audio interview.

My co-author Rick Hicks and I would love to have you hear this podcast interview that we did recently in Tampa FL.   It is with Jim Brangenberg, the radio host of iWork4him.   You might just get some great ideas about your next steps….. launching your encore.

“Authors Rick Hicks and Hans Finzel joined us to talk about the process of making a personal encore plan and the idea of  “ELDERLESCENCE”.  With Martha in studio, the Brangenberg’s highlighted the book that Rick and Hans penned called ‘Launch Your Encore’, and the quartet went deep on what it means to be great later in life.  Tune in for some worthwhile wisdom. “

I was asked to speak at a men’s retreat recently in Massachusetts–on how these two generations can respect each other and thrive together.  Here is the question I have been working at answering:

How can each generation work together to pass on the mantle of leadership from one generation to the next?

The example we use from the Bible is between Moses–the old guy–and Joshua the new kid on the block. Here is how Moses and Joshua set a great generational changing of the guard: Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

And here is the cool part:  Moses did everything he could to empower the next generation–he laid his hands on his replacement and gave his sign of blessing and support for the new generations:
“Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses.

What a joy hanging out with these 80 men for the retreat and pouring into their hearts.  The journey of learning to thrive together starts with three steps:

1. Stop judgmental attitudes toward the other generations.
2. Look for the positive characteristics that you can agree on.
3. Practice respect for those older or younger than you are.

What do you think?

I am proud to release my newest book: “The Power of Passion in Leadership.”

Do you do what you love and love what you do? How many of us are stuck in day jobs that really don’t suit us? Has God put a calling on your heart that you are not yet doing? In this short new passion-packed book you will learn what it means to work in your “passion zone.” I explain from my own journey, how to find your passion zone and what action steps to take if you are far from that place of fulfillment.

Don’t just take my word for it, here are some comments about the book from some great mentors in leadership:

You’re in a leadership role…or maybe you’re headed for your first leadership role. If you’re an emerging leader, are you looking forward to the opportunity? If you’re already there, are you fulfilled, finding joy and peace? Does your leadership inspire others? Do you love what you do or is it a drudgery? Are you where you belong? Is your heart engaged or are you just going through the motions? The Power of Passion in Leadership by Hans Finzel will help you grow into a better understanding of yourself, your leadership role and what inspired leadership looks like.
Bob Creson, President/CEO, Wycliffe Bible Translators USA

Passion matters. Hans does an incredible job teaching us how to find the passion that will lead to both success and significance. He expertly guides us in the ways that compel people to naturally follow us and also how to connect the deepest feelings of our heart with our work. If you’ve lost your passion, or never quite found it, read this book! It will teach you how to lead with a heart that is fully alive.
Kathrine Lee, Life & Business Strategist, Co-Creator of the Ultimate Source & Founder of the Pure Hope Foundation.

How many of us are stuck in day jobs that really don’t suit us? We have no fire and our heart has left the building. In this short new passion-packed book by Dr. Hans Finzel, you will learn what it means to move toward working in your “passion zone.” People love following leaders who lead from their hearts as well as their heads. I could not be more enthused to recommend this short and to the point book to all my listeners. John Lee Dumas, Host of the award winning podcast, Entrepreneur on Fire.

Here is a little bit of Chapter One to give you an idea of what to expect:

My heart seemed to be battling my head for a long time. In my heart I knew something was wrong, but my head kept telling me to ignore it. “I am making a great impact–so what if I am not happy?” It came to a head for me one day in my garage at home. I was going on a walk and put on my favorite “Life is Good,” baseball cap. I noticed that they had sewn their slogan inside the cap, so when you put it on your head you see their message. “Do what you like, like what you do.” I said to myself, “I am doing neither.”

It was time for a change. I used to find fulfillment in my career, but not anymore. I needed to start paying attention to my heart. Isn’t it funny how some of the oddest things can speak to us and change our whole direction in life? I guess the important thing is to listen and respond. I am a follower of Christ and find that He talks to me in all sorts of ways. Of course God speaks to me a lot through my Bible. Sometimes He speaks to me at church or through a deep conversation with someone. God uses my wife to speak to me from time to time, and I really listen to that! I love the outdoors and I often sense God’s whisper as I am pursuing my love of mountain biking or am in the hot tub on our deck. But this time it seemed He used my cap. My heart was not in what I was doing for my day job—I was just going through the motions with my head. I had to figure out how to flip my heart and my head…. And there were just two options. More on that later, along with the rest of my story.

Why does leading from the heart really matter? It can be natural to think, “If I am smart enough, gifted enough and work hard enough, of course people will respond to my leadership.” I know what I am talking about, because occasionally in my career I put my head before my heart. The more gifted you are, and the smarter you are, the more that this can be a temptation and the easy default. The problem is, that kind of leadership does not inspire people and build deep loyalty. I have noticed just the opposite. People follow people who they know, trust and believe. That trust is built between leader and follower within their hearts. There is some sort of a magnetic loyalty that grows in followers who respond to leaders who lead with passion out front.

Don’t get me wrong. Our heads are important. A lot of great leaders that we love to follow are very smart. I can think of a lot of famous people throughout history that changed the world through their powerful intellects and gifting. But if you dissect their leadership, you always find the passion factor very high and usually the thing that drew people to follow them. Think of the likes of Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher, John F Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Gandhi and Princess Diana. These were all very smart people who led with their hearts out front.

Nothing trumps passion. If you light yourself on fire, people will come to watch you burn. People follow people of passion. Conversely, when the fire goes out of our hearts, nothing will make people wander away faster and find someone else to follow. Some of us end up pretenders walking like zombies among the walking dead. Sound a little dramatic? It would be if I had not met some of you. I will explain that in a moment.

I love the razor sharp focus of this verse from the Old Testament book of Proverbs. It sums up the topic of this book and why everything in the leader’s life flows from the heart (Proverbs 4:23):

“Above all else, guard your heart, For everything you do flows from it.”

If you don’t think that passion is a big deal, read that verse again. It is the deal. Our passion lives in our heart of hearts. If we lose our heart we lose our leadership credibility. Proverbs declares that everything we do and touch flows from the heart as its ultimate source. The actions of our hands and the thoughts that flow out of our mouths all emerge from our heart. “Everything that we do,” seems to flow from our heart of hearts.

What a great time I had with my brothers and sisters in Cape Town recently.   We met at the River Tabernacle Church for a half day seminar on “Becoming the kind of Church Leader that people love to follow.”

Here are pastors Randall on the right, Theo on the left and my son in law Max in the middle.

Thanks Randall for setting all this up and I hope we can connect again soon!

I guess deep down I have always been an entrepreneur. How about you?

Today I am honored to be featured on the Entrepreneurs on Fire podcast with John Lee Dumas. Entrepreneurs on Fire is a daily podcast, encouraging entrepreneurs and would-be entrepreneurs to move forward with their dreams of being in business. There are a lot of us in ministry and the marketplace that are really entrepreneurs. Learn in this podcast about my own journey the last two years at building something brand new.

Success takes more than just “perspiration,” it takes inspiration. By studying the successes and failures of others we can learn about their mistakes before we make them, hear about the great things they have accomplished for themselves and for others to inspire us, and reinforce the idea that if they can do it, we can do it.

Entrepreneurs On Fire was awarded Best Of iTunes in 2013 because of our dedication to serve its listeners and share incredible insights to help guide their Entrepreneurial journey.

John has a great format that will cover how I got started, a great failure in my work, and the “aha moment” when I realized what would bring me joy and success at the same time.

Please check out the show notes and consider subscribing to this great show.