Municipal Leaders: Develop Faster, Lead Stronger, Build Better
Every week, you’ll get insights and actionable steps to help you navigate personal growth and professional success.
Episode 319 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Brought to you by Tyler Technologies
Most city managers weren’t trained for the job they’re actually doing today. They were trained to manage budgets. Oversee infrastructure. Execute policy.
But that’s not where the real challenge is anymore.
Today, leadership in local government lives in a different space, the space between perception and reality. The space where a single post can shape public opinion before the full story is even understood. The space where silence doesn’t buy time…it creates confusion.
And if you’re not telling the story of your work, someone else will.
In my conversation with Jeffrey Fiegenschuh, City Administrator in Washington, Illinois, we unpack what it means to lead in this environment. Not theoretically, but through the lens of someone who’s lived it across multiple communities, faced the pressure, made the mistakes, and learned what actually works.
One of the biggest shifts he points to is this: the role has moved from operator to connector.
It’s no longer enough to be right. You have to bring people with you.
That means working through competing priorities with elected officials. Supporting teams behind the scenes who make everything function. And navigating a level of public visibility that didn’t exist even a decade ago.
It also means understanding something many leaders miss early on: how quickly you can become the face of an issue, whether you intended to or not.
Jeff shares a story from early in his career where that lesson hit hard. It didn’t cost him his job, but it shaped how he leads to this day: grounded in facts, careful not to overstep into advocacy, and always aware of how decisions are perceived, not just made.
Because in this role, perception matters.
We also talk about something that should concern every community in the country: fewer people want this job. As the pressure increases and the scrutiny grows, many emerging leaders are stepping back and asking, “Is it worth it?”
Jeff doesn’t ignore that reality. But he also doesn’t let it define the work.
Because at its core, local government is still one of the most meaningful places to lead. The impact is tangible. The work matters. And the opportunity to shape a community—for the long term—is something few professions can offer.
But stepping into that kind of leadership today requires something different.
It requires clarity.
It requires communication.
And it requires the willingness to step into the story, before it’s written for you.
If you’re leading right now, or thinking about stepping into leadership, this conversation will challenge how you think about the role and what it actually takes to do it well.
Listen to Episode 319: Staying Ahead of the Story
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 is where local government leaders go to grow, together. It’s the fastest-growing leadership development community designed specifically for the public sector, now paired with a comprehensive 9-month Leadership & Culture Program for those ready to elevate their leadership and their organization.
Learn more at haltingwinter.com/mldc →
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.
