Municipal Leaders: Develop Faster, Lead Stronger, Build Better
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Episode 317 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
Most leaders don’t lose their culture all at once. It doesn’t collapse in a dramatic moment. It erodes slowly, through the conversations they choose not to have.
A missed deadline that goes unaddressed.
A behavior that gets overlooked.
A tension that gets ignored in the name of “keeping the peace.”
We call it being nice.
But over time, that niceness creates something far more damaging—confusion, frustration, and a culture where no one is quite sure what actually matters.
In this episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Westerville City Manager Monica Dupee puts words to a distinction most leaders feel but rarely articulate:
Niceness avoids.
Kindness addresses.
And the difference between the two is where culture is either built or quietly broken.
Monica’s journey into city management wasn’t linear. From small-town roots to leading through economic downturns, political tension, and a global pandemic, she’s had to make decisions that weren’t easy, popular, or comfortable.
But they were necessary.
Because leadership, especially in local government, isn’t about keeping everyone happy. It’s about creating clarity in environments where expectations, pressures, and emotions are constantly competing.
And clarity requires courage.
The courage to say, “This isn’t working.”
The courage to hold a standard.
The courage to care enough about your people to tell them the truth.
That’s kindness.
If you’re leading a team, a department, or an entire organization, this conversation will challenge you to rethink how you show up in the moments that matter most.
Because the culture you want isn’t built on what you believe. It’s built on what you’re willing to address.
Listen to Episode 317: Kindness Over Niceness
This episode is sponsored by Tyler Technologies, the leader in empowering the public sector with software solutions that connect data, streamline operations, and improve service delivery. From AI to budgeting solutions, Tyler helps local governments build stronger, more resilient communities.
Learn more at tylertech.com/winter →
The MLDC is where local government leaders go to grow, together. It’s the fastest-growing leadership development community designed specifically for the public sector, now paired with a comprehensive 9-month Leadership & Culture Program for those ready to elevate their leadership and their organization.
Learn more at haltingwinter.com/mldc →
The HaltingWinter Podcast celebrates and elevates the people who power local government. Through in-depth conversations with leaders from cities, counties, and communities of all sizes, host Seth Winterhalter explores the journeys, challenges, and innovations happening in municipal leadership across America.
