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.
What does it mean to lead in local government today?
If your answer is “deliver services efficiently,” you’re not wrong—but you might be settling for too little.
This week inside the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC), we’re diving into The New Public Service by Janet and Robert Denhardt—a book that reframes what public leadership can and should look like. And if you’re a city or county manager, administrator, or department head navigating the pressure of community expectations and political complexity, this book couldn’t be more timely.
For decades, local governments have been told to act more like the private sector:
→ Treat residents like customers
→ Prioritize efficiency
→ Streamline decision-making
→ Maximize outputs
But here’s the problem: cities aren’t corporations. And residents aren’t just customers—they’re citizens.
This subtle distinction changes everything. When we shift from a service-provider mindset to a citizen-partnership mindset, we begin leading with trust, transparency, and shared values—not just transaction metrics.
1. Citizens, Not Customers
We’re challenging the idea that public leadership is about delivering satisfaction. Instead, it’s about engaging citizens in shaping their community’s direction…together.
2. Serve, Don’t Steer
Leadership isn’t about controlling outcomes. It’s about facilitating collaboration and co-creation. We’ll explore what it looks like to lead like a facilitator, not a foreman.
3. Value People, Not Just Productivity
What happens when our departments focus more on performance than people? We’ll explore how culture, morale, and long-term success depend on seeing people as partners, not just producers.
4. Seek Engagement Over Control
The best decisions aren’t just made for the community—they’re made with the community. We’ll dive into the structures and mindsets that invite real engagement without giving up your leadership authority.
5. Serve with Integrity, Build with Trust
Trust is earned through behavior. This final episode reminds us that what we model as leaders is far more powerful than what we mandate.
If you’re exhausted by the weight of reactive leadership, disconnection, or a public that doesn’t seem to trust your intentions, The New Public Service gives you a new blueprint. One that puts people, values, and collaboration back at the center of how we lead.
It’s not just about managing better. It’s about leading differently.
Join us this week and get full access to:
Start your free 7-day trial today at HaltingWinter.com/MLDC
You don’t need to carry the complexity of municipal leadership alone.
And you don’t need to lead the way it’s always been done.
Let’s build a new public service—together.
The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a professional growth community exclusively for city managers, administrators, and municipal executives. Each week, we explore insights from transformative books and apply them specifically to the unique challenges of municipal leadership. Join Seth Winterhalter, President of HaltingWinter Municipal Solution, and leaders from around the nation to build stronger cities through stronger leaders. Learn more at HaltingWinter.com.
