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Episode 394 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Sponsored by Tyler Technologies
The people who rise in local government are often the ones willing to do more than what’s asked of them.
They raise their hand. Take on responsibilities outside their job description. Solve problems no one asked them to solve. And over time, they prove they can carry more.
That’s been true throughout Melissa Marsh’s career. Long before becoming City Manager of Madison Heights, Michigan, Melissa built a reputation for stepping up and taking on more. But eventually she discovered the other side of being the person everyone knows can handle it:
When you become really good at carrying more, people can stop noticing how much you’re carrying.
In Episode 394 of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Melissa and I talk about the tension between stepping up and being taken for granted, advocating for your value when your responsibilities outgrow your title, and learning that being capable of carrying something doesn’t mean you should carry it forever.
We also get into Melissa’s approach to decision-making—“It shouldn’t take 90 days to get an answer about a chicken”—why she regularly asks employees what obstacles she can remove for them, and how getting department heads out of City Hall and face-to-face with local businesses changed relationships in Madison Heights.
And ultimately, we come back to one of the hardest lessons for leaders who have built their careers by always being willing to do more:
“It’s a 24/7 job, but it’s impossible to be on 24/7.”
Your willingness to carry more may help you rise in leadership. Knowing what you no longer need to carry may be what allows you to stay there.
Watch or listen to Episode 394: Melissa Marsh: Being Capable Doesn’t Mean Carrying It All
If you’re attending the ICMA Annual Conference in Long Beach, you can also hear Melissa during the education session “The Road to Trust: How a Business Bus Tour Built Collaboration and Community” on Monday, October 19th.
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 shines a spotlight on the people behind our cities and counties. Through candid conversations with local government leaders from across the nation, host Seth Winterhalter explores the journeys, challenges, and ideas shaping stronger communities while inspiring the next generation of public servants.
