The Price of Perfection: Leading Through Grace, Not Grit Alone

We often celebrate municipal leaders for their toughness—their ability to carry pressure, manage conflict, and keep showing up no matter the storm. But what if the greatest strength in leadership isn’t grit?

What if it’s grace?

In this powerful episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, we sit down with Bridgette Gransden, County Administrator of Midland County, Michigan, and President of the Michigan Municipal Executives Association. With over 30 years in local government, Bridgette had done the hard work of holding it all together—until her body and soul reminded her: you can’t pour from an empty cup.

This conversation is a lifeline for any leader who has quietly asked, “Am I enough if I’m not constantly achieving?”

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What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

• Perfectionism, Pressure, and the Price We Pay
  How chasing top grades and overachievement translated into early leadership success and hidden burnout
• Grit Got Her Here—But Grace Is What’s Keeping Her Going
  Bridgette opens up about learning to give herself grace while still caring deeply for others
• Strength-Based Leadership That Actually Works
  How she uses the VIA Character Strengths assessment to build healthier, more connected teams
• The Leadership Power of Kindness, Humor, and Hope
  Why Bridgette leads with heart and why that’s not soft, it’s smart
• Mental Health and Municipal Management
  A refreshingly honest look at how therapy helped her reframe expectations, self-talk, and the impossible standards many leaders carry
• Title Doesn’t Equal Value
  Bridgette shares why leadership should be modeled at every level and why treating the janitor with respect is non-negotiable

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Why This Matters for Local Government Leaders

At HaltingWinter, we know the weight municipal leaders carry. The invisible hours. The pressure to always be the steady one. The temptation to lead like a machine instead of a human being.

Bridgette’s story reminds us that the best leaders don’t sacrifice themselves for success. They learn how to lead in a way that’s sustainable, grounded, and human.

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The HaltingWinter Podcast celebrates and elevates the people who power local government. Through in-depth conversations with leaders from cities, counties, and communities of all sizes, host Seth Winterhalter explores the journeys, challenges, and innovations happening in municipal leadership across America.