Show Notes
Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – The Obstacle is the Way Episode 375 of The HaltingWinter Podcast Most leadership books are written for leaders who have meaningful control over their environment. Local government isn't that context. Budget constraints, council dynamics, civil service systems, public scrutiny, and inherited dysfunction mean municipal leaders operate inside conditions they cannot fully control, and probably never will. Ryan Holiday's The Obstacle Is the Way draws on Stoic philosophy to argue that this isn't a problem to solve. It's the point. In this episode, Seth unpacks Holiday's three disciplines — Perception, Action, and Will — and makes the case for why Stoic philosophy may be the most directly applicable leadership framework for local government professionals. The constraint isn't in the way of the strategy. It's where the strategy happens.
Join the MLDC The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a network of local government leaders from across North America, including city/county managers, administrators, and department heads, giving you access to: ✔ A weekly podcast series breaking down one book for municipal applications ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools ✔ Our monthly virtual mastermind sessions ✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training for local gov leaders ➡ Learn more at https://HaltingWinter.com/MLDC Resources Mentioned Book: The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday Connect with Seth Winterhalter LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: https://HaltingWinter.com
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Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week: Give and Take Episode 399 of The HaltingWinter Podcast This week in the MLDC, Seth Winterhalter breaks down Adam Grant's Give and Take, the research-backed case that how you handle reciprocity at work predicts success more than talent or effort alone. Grant's research reveals a surprising pattern: givers show up disproportionately among both the lowest and highest performers in any organization, while takers and matchers cluster safely in the middle. The difference isn't how much you give; it's whether you give with any judgment about your own limits. For local government leaders especially, this is something to be mindful of. Public service attracts givers by nature, which is a real strength, but also a real burnout risk. Seth unpacks why the leaders who last aren't the ones who give the most in any single crisis or budget cycle, and why one taker on your team can do two to three times more damage than a giver can offset. The MLDC Leadership in local government doesn't get easier as you move up. The decisions get harder. The expectations get higher. And the number of people you can openly process those challenges with gets smaller. The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) gives local government leaders a place to keep growing alongside other professionals who understand the complexity of leading in local government. Inside the MLDC, you'll sharpen how you think, strengthen how you lead, and turn leadership ideas into practical action through: • Monthly Mastermind Sessions with municipal leaders from across North America • Leadership Development built specifically around the realities of local government • Practical Tools & Resources you can immediately apply with your team and organization • Ongoing Learning designed to keep you growing throughout the year You spend every day developing your organization, your employees, and your community. The MLDC is an investment in developing you. → Explore the Municipal Leadership Development Circle: https://haltingwinter.com/mldc/ Connect With Seth Winterhalter Seth Winterhalter is a keynote speaker and President of HaltingWinter, a national media company dedicated to telling the stories of local government. Through The HaltingWinter Podcast and the nationwide HaltingWinter Tour, he highlights the people and communities shaping America from the ground up, celebrating public servants, strengthening the profession, and inspiring the next generation to pursue lives of purpose and impact through local government. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com
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