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.
As a city manager, you’ve likely heard the phrase “culture eats strategy for breakfast.” But between the walls of city halls, where bureaucracy often reigns supreme and change moves at a glacial pace, transforming organizational culture can feel like trying to turn a battleship with a paddle.
This week, we’re diving deep into Roger Connors and Tom Smith’s groundbreaking work, “Change the Culture, Change the Game,” and exploring how its principles can revolutionize municipal leadership. While the private sector often dominates conversations about cultural transformation, the stakes are arguably even higher in public service, where cultural effectiveness directly impacts community wellbeing.
The Problem: Your city hall houses multiple departments, each with its own micro-culture. Public Works operates differently from Planning, which has a distinct culture from Parks and Recreation. Meanwhile, you’re trying to implement city-wide initiatives that require seamless collaboration across these divisions. Sound familiar?
The challenge isn’t just about changing behaviors – it’s about transforming the fundamental beliefs that drive those behaviors. In municipal government, where “we’ve always done it this way” often echoes through the corridors, this transformation requires particular finesse and understanding.
Throughout this week, we’ll explore three critical insights from Connors and Smith’s work, specifically tailored for municipal leaders:
As we journey through these insights this week, we’ll focus on practical application in the municipal context. You’ll learn how to:
Each day, we’ll tackle these challenges through the lens of our ABC framework – building Awareness of cultural dynamics, maintaining Balance during transformation, and mastering the Craft of cultural Cultivation.
Listen to the podcast episode and we’ll see you tomorrow as we dive deeper!
Transforming organizational culture requires more than understanding principles – it demands consistent focus, peer support, and proven implementation strategies. The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC), launching January 2025, offers a systematic approach to cultural transformation for forward-thinking city managers.
Through our innovative model, you’ll join a community of municipal leaders all working to reshape their organizational cultures. You’ll gain access to weekly insights on cultural transformation, participate in virtual town halls focused on culture-building strategies, and receive expert guidance on implementing lasting change in your specific municipal context.
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.
