The HaltingWinter Podcast

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – The Fearless Organization
Episode 294 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
_*]:min-w-0 gap-3"> When was the last time someone on your team told you something was failing before it became a crisis? This week's MLDC Book of the Week is "The Fearless Organization" by Amy C. Edmondson, and it addresses something every local government leader has felt but couldn't quite name: why your team stays silent when they should be speaking up.


_*]:min-w-0 gap-3"> In this episode, Seth Winterhalter introduces Edmondson's groundbreaking research on psychological safety: the belief that people can speak up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes without being humiliated, ignored, or blamed. You'll discover why the best teams actually report MORE problems (not fewer), and why local government's unique pressures create some of the biggest barriers to psychological safety.


_*]:min-w-0 gap-3"> If you've ever wondered why your leadership team stays silent in meetings, why problems hide until they become crises, or why your talented people leave for other organizations, this episode reveals what's really happening and what you can do about it.


Join the MLDC for the Complete 5-Part Series
The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a network of local government leaders from across North America, including city/county managers, administrators, and department heads, giving you access to: 

     ✔ A weekly podcast series breaking down one book for municipal applications
     ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools
     ✔ Our live, weekly, virtual mastermind session
     ✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training from local gov leaders
➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC
Resources Mentioned
Book: The Fearless Organization by Amy C. Edmondson
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

Michael Hart: The Power of Being Known
How Presence and Visibility Shape Community Identity and Impact
*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "7f0aa905-d803-4481-9e44-c1a088a011df" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> Episode 293 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
What does leadership look like when everyone knows your name and expects to see you at the grocery store, the park, and the coffee shop?
In this episode, Seth sits down with Michael Hart, City Manager of La Junta, Colorado, whose path to municipal leadership defies the traditional résumé. From military service and small-town mayor to firefighter, banker, and ultimately city administrator, Michael's story reveals how trust is built not through titles, but through presence.
They explore what happens when communities stop trying to be something they're not and instead lean fully into who they are.
This conversation is a powerful reminder that visibility isn't performative in local government—it's relational. And that the identity of a community is shaped, reinforced, and protected by leaders who are willing to be known.
Sponsored by:
Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

Steve Volkert: Silence Is the Sound of Success
Communication, Invisible Impact, and Leading Without Applause
Episode 292 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
What if the absence of noise is actually the clearest sign that your leadership is working?
In this episode, Steve Volkert, City Administrator of Hartford, Wisconsin, reflects on nearly three decades in local government and the quiet realities that define effective leadership long after the meetings end and the headlines fade.
From a career that began in radio and media to years spent navigating council dynamics, community growth, and organizational culture, Steve shares why communication—not control—is the true currency of city management. He also speaks candidly about the invisible nature of impact in local government, the emotional isolation that often comes with the role, and why strong professional relationships aren't optional; they're essential.
This conversation is a reminder for leaders who are doing meaningful work without recognition and an invitation for the next generation to consider a profession that shapes lives in ways few ever see.
Sponsored by:
Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less
Episode 291 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Charles Darwin changed the world by working only four hours a day. Meanwhile, most city managers are grinding out 60+ hour workweeks while their decision quality deteriorates from exhaustion. This week's MLDC Book of the Week challenges the martyrdom culture in local government leadership: "Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less" by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang reveals why the most productive leaders throughout history worked far less than you'd think and what neuroscience tells us about how your brain actually solves complex problems.
Join the MLDC for the Complete 5-Part Series
The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a network of local government leaders from across North America, including city/county managers, administrators, and department heads, giving you access to: 

     ✔ A weekly podcast series breaking down one book for municipal applications
     ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools
     ✔ Our live, weekly, virtual mastermind session
     ✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training from local gov leaders
➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC
Resources Mentioned
Book: Rest: Why You Get More Done When You Work Less by Alex Pang
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

Ben Lipps: When Leadership Gets Personal
Incivility, Threats, and Staying Steady in Local Government
Episode 290 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
What happens when leadership stops being theoretical and starts showing up at your door?
In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter sits down with Ben Lipps, Town Manager of Cumberland, Indiana, to explore what it means to lead when public service becomes personal.
Ben's journey into local government didn't begin in city hall; it began on the front lines of public works. From mowing grass and fixing potholes to supervising infrastructure, managing emergencies, and ultimately stepping into the town manager's seat, Ben's story is one of earned credibility, steady growth, and leadership forged through experience rather than title.
But this conversation goes deeper.
Ben shares candidly about navigating community growth, zoning conflict, and the rising incivility many local government leaders now face, including personal threats that tested not just his role, but his resilience. Together, Seth and Ben unpack the emotional weight of the manager's chair, the hidden cost of public outrage, and what it takes to stay grounded when leadership stops at 5:00 pm for no one.
Sponsored by:
Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC
Connect with Seth Winterhalter
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com