The Founding Collection Is Here! America Runs on Local Government. Preorder by November 22.
Every week, you’ll get insights and actionable steps to help you navigate personal growth and professional success.
Episode 400 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Sponsored by Tyler Technologies
Every city and county has a culture. Some have spent thousands of dollars defining it. They’ve held retreats, identified core values, developed mission statements, and put inspirational words on the walls.
But here’s the uncomfortable question: If I spent a week watching your employees work, would their behaviors reflect the values your organization claims to hold?
Because culture doesn’t care what you say.
It reveals itself in how people treat one another. How departments collaborate…or don’t. How leaders respond when something goes wrong. And what happens when someone consistently behaves in ways that undermine everything the organization claims to value.
For Steve Mokrohisky, County Administrator of Lane County, Oregon, this wasn’t simply a leadership philosophy. It became a practical approach to transforming an organization.
When Steve arrived in Lane County in 2014, he inherited an organization facing significant challenges, including damaged public trust and financial pressures. But he also discovered something important: dedicated public servants who wanted to do meaningful work without the distractions created by problems at the top.
So how do you turn that potential into a thriving organizational culture?
And perhaps more importantly, how do you make culture something employees actually live rather than something leaders simply talk about?
In Episode 400 of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Steve shares what he’s learned from more than 25 years in local government, including why strategic planning is essential to escaping reactive leadership, how curiosity and humility shape effective executives, and what it means to build an organization that can succeed long after you’ve left.
We also explore one of the most challenging realities of local government leadership: navigating disruptive governing body members without losing your effectiveness or yourself.
This conversation isn’t about finding the perfect mission statement. It’s about closing the gap between the culture you say you want and the culture your people experience every day.
Listen to the Podcast
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 Masterminds place local government leaders into small, intentionally curated cohorts with peers who understand the weight and challenges of your unique work. It’s a trusted room to wrestle with specific challenges, gain perspective from leaders across the country, and build the relationships that make you better at what you do. 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.
