Introducing: The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) - Save 50% During Launch Phase
Every week, you’ll get insights and actionable steps to help you navigate personal growth and professional success.
Hello, Impactful City Leaders!
Welcome to this week’s edition of “The Leader’s Lens!” The most innovative cities aren’t just hiring smart people – they’re mastering how different minds work together. This week, we’ve explored how understanding and leveraging collaborative intelligence can transform your municipality’s effectiveness.
This week, we’re celebrating Sierra Vista City Manager Chuck Potucek’s recognition as a 2024-2025 Defense Community Champion by the Association of Defense Communities (ADC) in partnership with Navy Federal Credit Union. As one of only 19 leaders nationwide to receive this honor, Chuck exemplifies how collaborative leadership creates lasting community impact.
Through consistent partnership with Fort Huachuca, Chuck’s team has:
As Tourism & Economic Development Director Tony Boone noted, “Chuck’s leadership continues to challenge [City staff] to find more ways to partner with Fort Huachuca.” His recognition builds on a legacy of cooperation, following former Mayor Rick Mueller’s receipt of the same award – who, during his own nomination, insisted Chuck deserved the credit.
Episode 118: Different Minds, Better Solutions: The Science of Collaborative Intelligence
Discover why the most innovative cities aren’t just hiring smart people – they’re mastering how different minds work together. Learn:
Episode 119: Peter Troedsson: Calm Under Pressure
From Coast Guard Commander to City Manager, discover how military leadership principles transform municipal governance. Through organizational transitions and a global pandemic, hear how Troedsson’s emergency management experience and “calm under pressure” approach helps guide Albany forward.
You’ll hear how to:
Drawing from Markova and McArthur’s insightful book “Collaborative Intelligence,” each day we’ve explored how different minds can work together to transform municipal effectiveness:
Monday: The Power of Collaborative Intelligence
Harnessing Your Team’s Collective Potential Discover why cognitive diversity is your municipality’s secret weapon.
Tuesday: Mind Patterns: The Hidden Key to Municipal Innovation
Learn how different thinking styles can transform your team’s effectiveness.
Wednesday: The Art of Inquiry: Transforming Cities Through Powerful Questions
Master the questions that unlock collaborative potential.
Thursday: Building Your Collaborative Infrastructure
Create systems that naturally foster collective intelligence.
Friday: From Insight to Action: Making Collaborative Intelligence Work
Put it all together with practical implementation strategies.
“Different thinking patterns aren’t obstacles to overcome – they’re essential resources for solving complex municipal challenges.”
This insight from “Collaborative Intelligence” is a foundational key to building a thriving team of unique individuals. Too often, we see different thinking styles as problems to manage rather than assets to leverage. But here’s what I’ve learned: The most innovative solutions emerge when we create environments where different minds can work together effectively.
Watching Peter Troedsson build a high-performing team in Albany and seeing how collaborative intelligence transforms municipalities, you might be wondering: “How do I create this kind of environment in my city?”
That’s why I’m excited to introduce you to the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC), launching in January 2025. Imagine starting each day with focused insights like those we’ve explored this week from “Collaborative Intelligence,” delivered in formats that fit your busy schedule. But here’s what makes MLDC truly transformative – you won’t be growing alone.
You’ll join a community of municipal leaders who understand that cognitive diversity isn’t just a buzzword – it’s the key to solving our cities’ most complex challenges. Through daily content, weekly implementation guides, and monthly coaching, you’ll learn to transform how your municipality thinks and works together.
Take the first step:
Next week, we’re diving into “Change the Culture, Change the Game” by Roger Connors and Tom Smith. We’ll explore how beliefs drive actions, and actions create results in municipal organizations.
You’ll discover:
Stay tuned for practical insights that will help you create lasting cultural change in your municipality!
P.S. What key insight from “Collaborative Intelligence” resonated most with your leadership journey this week? Share your story on my LinkedIn page!
Seth Winterhalter is President of HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions and creator of the ABCs of Impactful Leadership framework. Through executive coaching, results-based consulting, and the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC), he helps city managers transform their organizational cultures to create lasting, meaningful impact in their communities.
