The HaltingWinter Podcast offers insights and strategies for city managers and municipal leaders to transform their leadership, energize their teams, and revita...
Show Notes: "Mindset and Municipal Leadership"Episode 137 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Part 1 of 5: The Mindset Series Episode Overview In this first episode of our Mindset series, Seth Winterhalter explores how Carol Dweck's fascinating research on mindset applies specifically to municipal leadership, revealing how city managers' beliefs about growth and adaptation fundamentally shape their effectiveness as leaders and their cities' futures. Key Takeaways How mindset impacts your response to council criticism and setbacks The relationship between leadership mindset and organizational culture Why growth-oriented leaders see challenges differently How your mindset shapes team development and innovation Implementation Examples Transforming council meeting dynamics Reframing departmental challenges Enhancing team feedback processes Building resilient leadership practices Special This Week: Free 7-Day MLDC Trial Experience the complete Municipal Leadership Development Circle with full access to: All five Mindset podcast episodes Daily deep-dive blog posts Friday's Virtual Book Club discussion Complete access to the MLDC online platform Nationwide community of municipal leaders Start your free trial HERE Resources Mentioned Book: "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol Dweck Weekly Newsletter - The Leader's Lens (free subscription) Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) Connect With Seth LinkedIn:Â www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website:Â www.HaltingWinter.com
-------- Â
4:56
137: Travis Rothweiler: From Department Silos to 'One City'
Show Notes: Travis Rothweiler: From Department Silos to 'One City' Episode 137 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Episode Overview Join Seth Winterhalter and Travis Rothweiler, City Manager of Twin Falls, Idaho, for an inspiring discussion about transformational leadership and organizational culture. From his early start as a city administrator at age 28 to implementing the innovative "One City" initiative, Travis shares powerful insights on breaking down departmental silos, developing leaders at all levels, and maintaining personal balance in public service. Key Takeaways How to transform traditional hierarchical structures into collaborative environments The power of empowering employees to think like city managers Strategies for implementing organization-wide leadership development Balancing professional demands with personal well-being The importance of humility in executive leadership Creating psychological safety for innovation and decision-making Career Highlights Discussed Fifth-generation Montanan turned Idaho public servant City Administrator of Jerome, Idaho at age 28 Assistant City Manager role under 32-year veteran Tom Courtney 14 years as City Manager of Twin Falls Development and implementation of the One City initiative Leadership through significant economic development wins Leadership Insights Moving from expert-based to collaborative decision-making Building trust through vulnerability and grace Empowering employees to lead the budget process Creating parallel teams to solve organizational challenges The importance of mentorship in leadership development Balancing family commitments with city management demands Personal Development Insights Transition from Ironman training to family priorities Using fly fishing as both recreation and a leadership metaphor The importance of setting boundaries in a 24/7 role Managing crisis situations while maintaining personal balance Building sustainable leadership practices Resources Mentioned The Leader's Lens Newsletter: Subscribe for Free Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC): Learn More Here Visit www.haltingwinter.com for more resources Connect With Seth Winterhalter &]:mt-2 [li>mark>&]:mt-2 list-disc space-y-2 pl-8" style= "box-sizing: inherit; padding-left: 2rem; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Inter, 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: www.HaltingWinter.com The MLDC The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) launched on January 6th, and to celebrate, we're giving podcast listeners 20% off an annual subscription during the month of January. Visit the link below and use the coupon code "PODCAST" when you checkout today! --> JOIN HERE
-------- Â
1:11:54
136: From Good to Great in Municipal Leadership
Show Notes: Episode 136 of The HaltingWinter Podcast "From Good to Great in Municipal Leadership" Episode Overview In this first episode of our Good to Great series, Seth Winterhalter explores how Jim Collins' groundbreaking research in his best-selling book, "Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't," applies specifically to municipal leadership, revealing how city managers can transform their organizations from good to great despite public sector constraints. Key Takeaways Why great organizations don't set out to become great The unique challenges and opportunities in municipal transformation Three key distinctions between good and great municipal organizations How to drive excellence within public sector constraints Implementation Examples Infrastructure maintenance transformation Cross-departmental innovation Strategic resource allocation Community engagement enhancement Resources Mentioned Book: "Good to Great" by Jim Collins The HaltingWinter Podcast: Episode 125 with Mike Land Weekly Newsletter - Subscribe for Free to The Leader's Lens Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC): www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC Connect With Seth LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: www.HaltingWinter.com MLDC Membership Benefits Access the complete Good to Great series and join our growing community of municipal leaders through an MLDC membership. Get exclusive access to: Daily leadership content Implementation guides Deep-dive podcast episodes Virtual Book Club discussions Peer discussion forums Use promo code "podcast" for 20% off annual membership. Learn More -->
-------- Â
5:54
135: Sam Toles: From Hollywood to City Hall: Transforming Municipal Social Media
Show Notes: Sam Toles: From Hollywood to City Hall: Transforming Municipal Social Media Episode 135 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Episode Overview Join Seth Winterhalter and Sam Toles, CEO of CiviSocial, for an innovative exploration of municipal communications in the digital age. Drawing from his extraordinary career spanning Hollywood studios, social media platforms, and local government, Sam shares transformative insights about authentic storytelling, modern engagement strategies, and empowering city staff to become effective content creators. Key Takeaways Why traditional media approaches no longer serve local governments effectively The power of authentic, staff-driven video content in building community trust How to transform municipal communications without adding new staff Understanding the evolution from Social Media 1.0 to 2.0 The surprising trust advantage local governments have over traditional media Strategies for empowering young staff members as content creators Career Highlights Discussed Executive roles at major entertainment companies including MGM and Bleacher Report Experience as an elected City Council member Creation of innovative social media strategies for major brands Work with leading content creators including MrBeast Transition from entertainment industry to municipal consulting Development of municipal-focused social media training programs Leadership Insights How to identify and empower natural content creators within your staff Converting technical information into engaging stories Building authentic connections through video content Managing political dynamics in municipal communications Transforming PIOs from content creators to content strategists Leveraging trust in local government for better engagement Key Concepts Covered The shift from text-based to video-based social media Why comments matter less than shares in modern social media How to use AI tools effectively in municipal communications The importance of authentic, personal storytelling Strategies for breaking down departmental communication silos Building a sustainable content creation culture in local government Connect With Sam Toles &]:mt-2 [li>mark>&]:mt-2 list-disc space-y-2 pl-8" style= "box-sizing: inherit; padding-left: 2rem; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Inter, 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/samtoles1/ Website: www.CiviSocial.com Resources Mentioned The Leader's Lens Newsletter: Subscribe for Free Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC): Learn More Here Visit www.haltingwinter.com for more resources Connect With Seth Winterhalter &]:mt-2 [li>mark>&]:mt-2 list-disc space-y-2 pl-8" style= "box-sizing: inherit; padding-left: 2rem; margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1rem; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Inter, 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"> LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: www.HaltingWinter.com MLDC Launch Week The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) launched on January 6th, and to celebrate, we're giving podcast listeners 20% off an annual subscription during the month of January. Visit the link below and use the coupon code "PODCAST" when you checkout today! --> JOIN HERE
-------- Â
44:37
134: Breaking Free from Carrot-and-Stick Motivation
Show Notes: Episode 134 "Breaking Free from Carrot-and-Stick Leadership: Motivation That Works" Part 1 of 5 The Drive Series The HaltingWinter Podcast Episode Overview In this first episode of our series exploring Daniel Pink's "Drive," Seth Winterhalter challenges traditional approaches to motivation in municipal government, revealing why the most successful city managers aren't those with the biggest incentive programs, but those who understand the true science of motivation. Key Takeaways Why traditional reward systems often fail in municipal settings The unique motivational advantages of public service How to leverage meaning over monetary incentives The three fundamental elements that drive high performance in municipal government Practical Applications Converting metrics into meaning Connecting daily tasks to community impact Creating engagement through purposeful challenge Balancing structure with autonomy Resources Mentioned Book: "Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us" by Daniel Pink The HaltingWinter Podcast: Episode 127 with Sam Anselm on "Why Performance Reviews Are Crippling Municipal Culture" Weekly Newsletter - Subscribe for Free to The Leader's Lens Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC): www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC Connect With Seth LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: www.HaltingWinter.com MLDC Membership Benefits Access the complete Drive series and join our growing community of municipal leaders through an MLDC membership. Get exclusive access to: Daily leadership content Implementation guides Deep-dive podcast episodes Virtual Book Club discussions Peer discussion forums Use promo code "podcast" for 20% off annual membership. Learn More -->
The HaltingWinter Podcast offers insights and strategies for city managers and municipal leaders to transform their leadership, energize their teams, and revitalize their municipalities. Hosted by Seth Winterhalter, President of HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions, we explore innovative approaches to balance personal well-being with professional growth while cultivating a vibrant workplace culture.
Discover how to lead with purpose, navigate complex challenges, and deliver exceptional results for your community. Each episode provides actionable advice to help you thrive in the unique landscape of municipal leadership.
Whether you're a seasoned city manager or new to municipal leadership, this podcast is your resource for personal and professional growth. Tune in and join our mission of making stronger cities through stronger leaders.
USA