Introducing: The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) - Save 50% During Launch Phase

The Leader’s Lens

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Last week, a city manager told me something that stopped me in my tracks: “I came to this role passionate about serving my community. Now I feel like I’m just surrendering pieces of myself every day.”

Does that resonate with you?

It’s a pattern I see far too often in municipal leadership. Dedicated public servants slowly surrendering their effectiveness in the name of service:

  • Answering non-emergency calls at 9 PM to be “responsive”
  • Rushing through project reviews to be “helpful”
  • Saying yes to every meeting to be “collaborative”

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: When service becomes surrender, everyone loses. Your family loses. Your effectiveness loses. And ultimately, your community loses.

In this week’s episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, we’re diving deep into this critical challenge. You’ll discover:

  • The three most common “service traps” that lead to leadership surrender
  • How to use William Ury’s revolutionary Yes-No-Yes framework to maintain boundaries while strengthening relationships
  • Practical scripts for transforming surrender moments into leadership opportunities
  • Examples from city managers who’ve reclaimed their leadership without compromising their service commitment

Plus, you’ll learn the crucial difference between strategic service and automatic surrender – and why understanding this distinction could save your leadership career.

Want to dive deeper into transforming your leadership approach? Subscribe to The Leader’s Lens newsletter, where we’re unpacking these concepts all week with practical applications for municipal leaders.

Transform Your Leadership in 2025

Tired of surrendering your effectiveness in the name of service? The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC), launching January 2025, provides city managers with the frameworks, support, and community needed to lead with impact without burning out.

Join a growing number of municipal leaders from across the nation committed to sustainable public service. Early enrollment bonuses include exclusive coaching sessions focused on boundary-setting and strategic leadership.

Learn More and Save Your Seat

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.