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

The Leader’s Lens

Every week, you’ll get insights and actionable steps to help you navigate personal growth and professional success.

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The Daily Snapshot

Ever notice how the same qualities that make someone excellent at public service can also lead to their eventual burnout? There’s a reason for this paradox and understanding it could transform how you approach municipal leadership.

In their groundbreaking work on burnout, the Nagoski sisters identify something they call “Human Giver Syndrome” – the deeply held belief that certain people must give all their energy, attention, and resources to others. Sound familiar? In municipal leadership, this syndrome takes on a unique and particularly challenging form.

The Public Servant’s Trap

As city managers, you’re caught in a perfect storm:

1. The Nature of Public Service

  • Your work directly impacts community well-being
  • Success often means invisible prevention rather than visible achievement
  • The needs are literally endless

2. The Political Reality

  • 24/7 availability is often expected
  • Criticism is public, praise is rare
  • Every decision faces scrutiny

3. The Professional Culture

  • Self-sacrifice is often celebrated
  • Taking time for self-development can feel selfish
  • “Doing more with less” is the eternal mandate

The Hidden Cost of Endless Giving

This mindset creates a dangerous cycle:

  • Personal depletion leads to diminished decision-making
  • Reduced effectiveness increases the pressure to give more
  • Increased giving accelerates depletion
  • The cycle continues, affecting both leader and community

Breaking the Cycle: A New Framework

The solution isn’t to care less – it’s to lead more sustainably. Here’s how:

1. Redefine Service Excellence

  • Sustainable leadership IS public service
  • Personal development enhances community impact
  • Self-renewal enables better decision-making

2. Implement Sustainable Practices

  • Create clear work/rest boundaries
  • Prioritize professional development
  • Build recovery time into your schedule

3. Transform the Culture

  • Model sustainable leadership practices
  • Celebrate team members who maintain boundaries
  • Make personal development a strategic priority

Practical Implementation Steps

1. Audit Your Giving Patterns

  • Track where your energy goes
  • Identify unsustainable expectations
  • Note when giving depletes rather than energizes

2. Create Sustainability Systems

  • Establish clear response protocols
  • Define true emergencies
  • Build in recovery periods

3. Develop Your Team

  • Cross-train for crucial functions
  • Build deep bench strength
  • Create collaborative support systems

The Leadership Multiplication Effect

When you break free from the self-sacrifice cycle:

  • Your strategic thinking improves
  • Your team becomes more capable
  • Your community gets better leadership
  • Your impact becomes more sustainable

Culture Change Starts with You

Remember: You’re not just changing your own patterns – you’re setting the standard for:

  • Future municipal leaders
  • Your current leadership team
  • The entire organizational culture

Moving Forward

The goal isn’t to give less – it’s to give more sustainably. By breaking free from the self-sacrifice cycle, you create the capacity for greater, more lasting impact.

Your Action Steps:

  1. Identify one unsustainable giving pattern
  2. Create one boundary this week
  3. Share your commitment with a trusted colleague

Reflection Question:

How might your leadership impact expand if you approached giving as a renewable rather than finite resource?

Share your thoughts in the comments on my LinkedIn page.

Transform Your Leadership Development in 2025

The path to stronger cities begins with stronger, more sustainable leadership. The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC), launching January 2025, offers a comprehensive approach to personal and professional growth designed specifically for city managers and leaders.

Through daily insights, peer community, and expert guidance, you’ll develop:

  • Frameworks for sustainable public service
  • Strategies for culture transformation
  • Tools for building organizational resilience

Join a community of municipal leaders committed to personal excellence and organizational impact.

Learn More & Save Your Spot

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.