Introducing: The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) - Save 50% During Launch Phase
Every week, you’ll get insights and actionable steps to help you navigate personal growth and professional success.
In August 2024, I had individual conversations with nearly 50 city managers across the United States, from communities of 1,500 to cities of over a million. One question consistently stopped them in their tracks: “How are you doing personally?”
The uncomfortable silence that followed spoke volumes.
Matthew Kelly’s eye-opening book “Off Balance” articulates what I’ve witnessed firsthand – the pursuit of work-life balance is not just futile; it’s harmful. For city managers, this truth hits particularly close to home. When you’re constantly juggling council expectations, community demands, and departmental needs (what I call the three-headed snake of municipal leadership), the very concept of “balance” becomes another source of stress rather than a solution.
Kelly argues that we’re asking the wrong question. Instead of “How can I achieve better work-life balance?” we should ask, “What will bring me greater satisfaction?” This shift in thinking is revolutionary, especially for municipal leaders who face unique challenges:
This resonates deeply with my own journey. As a former lead pastor, I lived the myth of balance until it nearly destroyed me. I pursued excellence in my professional role while trying to maintain some semblance of personal life, constantly feeling like I was failing at both. Sound familiar?
My breaking point became my breakthrough. I realized that trying to balance on the tightrope between work and life wasn’t just difficult – it was impossible. More importantly, it was the wrong goal entirely.
This week, we’ll explore how Kelly’s insights, combined with my experience working with high-level leaders across the nation, can transform your approach to leadership and life. We’ll dive into:
The goal isn’t to help you balance better – it’s to help you thrive in the natural tension of municipal leadership. As Kelly points out, and as I’ve seen confirmed countless times in my work with city managers, satisfaction comes not from perfect equilibrium but from intentional choices aligned with your values and vision.
This journey toward sustainable leadership is why I’m writing my upcoming book, “Balance is Bullsh*t,” written specifically for municipal leaders. It’s also why I’m passionate about helping city managers break free from the balance myth to lead with greater impact and personal fulfillment.
After all, stronger cities require stronger leaders – and stronger leaders need a better framework than the impossible pursuit of balance.
Transform Your Life & Leadership in 2025
The insights we’ll explore this week are just the beginning. The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC), launching on January 6, 2025, offers city managers and leaders a comprehensive framework for sustainable leadership. In the MLDC, you’ll join a community of municipal leaders focused on breaking free from the balance myth and building leadership practices that actually work in the real world of city management. You’ll gain access to proven tools for sustainable leadership, along with expert guidance on thriving in the tension of municipal demands.
This is the final week to secure pre-launch pricing and the special bonuses so DON’T DELAY!
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 approach to sustainable leadership and personal fulfillment.
