The Leader’s Lens

Every week, you’ll get insights and actionable steps to help you navigate personal growth and professional success.

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City Managers and Municipal Leaders,

Are you ready to enhance your leadership skills and transform your city? This week, we’re embarking on an exciting journey into the world of strengths-based leadership, and you’re invited to join us every step of the way.

Your Leadership Upgrade Starts Now

Today marks the launch of our latest podcast episode, where we dive deep into the transformative concepts from “Strengths Based Leadership” by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie. In this episode, you’ll discover:


Are you a city manager who’s achieved significant success but feels like you’ve hit a plateau? Do you ever wonder if the very behaviors that propelled you to your current position might now be holding you back? If so, you’re not alone, and our latest podcast episode and blog series are tailor-made for you.

Introducing Our New Podcast Episode and Blog Series

This week on The HaltingWinter Podcast, we’re diving deep into Marshall Goldsmith’s groundbreaking book, “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There.” As the President of HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions, I’m excited to share insights that could transform your approach to municipal leadership.


In our latest episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, Seth Winterhalter has a captivating conversation with David Cameron, the City Administrator of Republic, Missouri. This discussion is a must-listen for anyone interested in local government, leadership, or community development.


Are you ready to transform your approach to municipal leadership? This week, The HaltingWinter Podcast and blog are diving deep into a topic that’s crucial for every city manager: self-awareness and its profound impact on leadership effectiveness.

The Podcast: Your Gateway to Impactful Leadership


Are you a city manager feeling overwhelmed by the constant juggling act of your role? Do you find yourself torn between competing priorities, struggling to maintain work-life balance, or battling against a stagnant organizational culture? If so, you’re not alone – and there’s a podcast episode you absolutely need to hear.


Are you a city manager feeling overwhelmed, constantly putting out fires, and struggling to make progress on strategic priorities? If so, you’re not alone – and our latest podcast episode might just be the game-changer you’ve been looking for.


At the heart of every thriving community lies an unseen high-wire act: city management. As a city manager, you’re not just walking a tightrope – you’re doing so while taming a three-headed snake, each head representing a crucial stakeholder: department heads, elected officials, and community citizens. It’s a delicate balance of collaboration, diplomacy, and strategic leadership that few truly understand.

That’s why we’ve created this new, 5-part podcast series titled, “The Municipal Tightrope: Taming the Three-Headed Snake.” Drawing from insightful interviews with almost 50 city managers across America, this series pulls back the curtain on the challenges, triumphs, and daily realities of those who keep our cities running.


Welcome to the fourth episode of our podcast series, “The Municipal Tightrope: Taming the Three-Headed Snake.” In this installment, we shift our focus to an often-overlooked aspect of city management: the personal challenges and sacrifices faced by those who dedicate their lives to public service.


Welcome to the third episode of our podcast series, “The Municipal Tightrope: Taming the Three-Headed Snake.” After exploring the challenges faced by city managers, we now turn our attention to the strategies and approaches that successful municipal leaders use to overcome these obstacles.


Welcome back to our podcast series, “The Municipal Tightrope: Taming the Three-Headed Snake.” In this second installment, we dive deeper into the challenges that make city management one of the most demanding jobs in public service.

Episode 2: Navigating the Complexities of City Management

Building on our introduction to city managers, this episode explores the obstacles and dilemmas that these municipal leaders face daily. Drawing from our extensive interviews with nearly 50 city managers across the United States, we uncover the real-world challenges of running a city.