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.
Picture this: You’re sitting in a council meeting, tension crackling through the air. On one side, department heads argue for critical funding. On the other, council members push back on budget constraints. And there you are, in the middle, knowing your next words will either bridge the gap or widen it.
Sound familiar?
As a city manager, you don’t get to choose whether to have tough conversations. They’re built into the fabric of your role. What you can choose is how you handle them – and that choice makes all the difference between a thriving city organization and one stuck in endless conflict.
Think about your typical week. You’re probably juggling:
Each of these moments isn’t just a conversation – it’s a crossroads where your city’s future can shift dramatically based on how effectively you communicate.
Here’s what makes your situation unique: In private sector leadership, tough conversations usually happen behind closed doors. But as a city manager? You’re conducting these crucial conversations in the spotlight, often with multiple stakeholders, competing interests, and the added pressure of public scrutiny.
When stakes are high, opinions vary, and emotions run strong, that’s not just a crucial conversation – that’s every Tuesday morning in city management.
This week, we’re drawing from “Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High” by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler, to explore three proven approaches that will strengthen how you handle these pivotal moments:
These skills aren’t just about communication – they’re central to all three aspects of Cultivation in my ABC framework of leadership impact:
Here’s what makes this approach different: Instead of seeing tough conversations as obstacles to be avoided, you’re reframing them as opportunities for breakthrough moments. Every difficult discussion becomes a chance to:
The quality of your crucial conversations determines the quality of your results. As one city manager recently told me, “I used to dread certain meetings. Now I see them as opportunities to create alignment and move our city forward.”
What crucial conversations are you facing this week? What’s one high-stakes discussion you wish you could handle differently? Share your thoughts on one of the posts this week on my LinkedIn page – let’s learn from each other’s experiences and support our progress.
Tomorrow, we’ll dive deep into building trust and confidence in those high-stakes moments that define your success as a city leader.
Remember: In city management, it’s not just about having conversations – it’s about making them count.
Transform Your Leadership in 2025
As a city manager, your calendar is packed with meetings, your inbox is overflowing, and crisis management is a daily routine. Yet mastering crucial conversations can’t wait. That’s why I’m launching the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) in January 2025 – delivering essential leadership development in just minutes a day through curated content and expert guidance designed specifically for municipal leaders.
Learn More About MLDC – Early enrollment is now open but bonus features are limited so act now!
Seth Winterhalter is President of HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions, dedicated to making stronger cities through stronger leaders. Through executive coaching, consulting, and the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC), HaltingWinter helps city managers and municipal leaders transform their leadership impact and their organizational culture.
