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Episode 407 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Sponsored by Tyler Technologies
What if the very thing that made you successful as a leader is now holding your team back?
You built your career by getting things done. When problems arose, you solved them. When projects stalled, you stepped in. When someone needed help, you were there.
And that ability to deliver results helped you earn your seat at the executive leadership table. But what happens when those same instincts begin working against you?
In Episode 407 of The HaltingWinter Podcast, I sit down with Amy Snider, Deputy City Manager for Harrisonburg, Virginia, to explore a leadership trap that’s easy to fall into and surprisingly difficult to recognize.
Amy oversees five departments and roughly half of Harrisonburg’s workforce. Yet she’s quick to acknowledge that she isn’t the expert in public works, utilities, transportation, parks, or community development.
And she doesn’t need to be. Her role is something entirely different.
Executive leadership isn’t about knowing more than everyone else. It’s about creating the conditions for everyone else’s expertise to work together.
There’s a point in your leadership journey when stepping in to solve another problem might actually be the wrong decision. When being helpful becomes harmful. When taking ownership prevents someone else from developing theirs. And when the greatest contribution you can make isn’t providing the answer, but creating the environment where someone else can discover it.
Amy brings a fascinating perspective to this conversation, shaped by an unconventional journey from teaching in rural North Carolina to executive leadership in local government. She also challenges some deeply ingrained assumptions about what assistant and deputy city managers should actually be doing.
Whether you’re a city manager, department director, aspiring executive, or someone who simply cares about becoming a better leader, this conversation will make you examine where your greatest strengths might be creating unintended weaknesses.
The question isn’t whether you’re capable of solving the problem. It’s whether you should be the one solving it.
Listen to the episode below.
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.
