Do not become deceived by the world with the Top Down Attitude management style in your leadership instead be servant leaders.
a. Use the leadership style that Jesus role modeled.
i. Finzel states, “When it comes to servant leadership there is no better model than that of Jesus Christ. On the night he was betrayed, Jesus showed His followers just how much he loved them. We read John chapter 13, verse 1 and he ‘knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of His love.’ At that point Jesus begins to give his final and ultimate demonstration of servant leadership: he washes the disciples feet” (30)!
b. Quote from Finzel: Top Ten Mistakes Leaders Make
i. He states, “The top-down approach to leadership is based on the military model of barking orders to weak underlings. It goes something like this: ‘I’m in charge here, and the sooner you figure that out the better” (23).
ii. He tells us how to recognize this style of leadership: Where does the top-down attitude show up?
1. Abusive authority
2. Deplorable delegation
3. lack of listening
4. Dictatorship in decision making
5. lack of letting go
6. Egocentric manner (23).