Jeffrey Fiegenschuh: Staying Ahead of the Story
How Communication Now Defines Success in Local Government

Episode 319 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What does it take to lead a city today?

For Jeffrey Fiegenschuh, City Administrator in Washington, Illinois, the answer has shifted. While budgets and infrastructure still matter, the real work now centers on communication, trust, and navigating public perception. In a world shaped by social media and rapid information, if leaders aren't telling the story of their work, someone else will.

Jeff shares his journey into city management, the lessons he learned early on about staying grounded in facts—not advocacy—and how the role has evolved into one that requires constant alignment between staff, elected officials, and the community. Today's leaders aren't just operators; they're consensus builders.

We also explore the growing challenge facing the profession: fewer people are stepping into leadership roles. As pressure and visibility increase, many are hesitant to take on the responsibility. Jeff offers a candid perspective on why the work still matters and why strong, people-focused leadership is needed now more than ever.

This conversation is a clear reminder: success in local government isn't just about what you do; it's about how well you communicate it.

Sponsored by:

• Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Download their latest E-book on AI for free at https://tylertech.com/winter

• The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is for local government leaders who refuse to settle for average. It's a space for those committed to leading at a higher level with sharper thinking, stronger culture, and greater impact. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
• Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com

Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – The Three Laws of Performance
Episode 318 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

Every organization has a future already in motion. Not the one in the strategic plan. Not the vision you laid out at the last all-staff meeting. The one your people actually believe; the one shaped by every broken promise, every initiative that quietly died, and every reorg that promised efficiency and delivered chaos.

In this episode, Seth Winterhalter introduces our MLDC book of the week: The Three Laws of Performance by Steve Zaffron and Dave Logan. These aren't management tips or leadership hacks. They're universal laws, as reliable as gravity, that explain why performance is what it is in your organization, and what it actually takes to change it at the root.

If you lead a city, county, or public agency, this book will change how you read the resistance in your meetings, the cynicism in your hallways, and the gap between what you announce and what actually happens. And it will give you a lever most leaders don't know they have.

Join the MLDC for the Complete 5-Part Series

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 live, weekly, virtual mastermind session
✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training from local gov leaders

➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com/MLDC

Resources Mentioned

• Book: The Three Laws of Performance by Steve Zaffron & Dave Logan

Connect with Seth Winterhalter

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
• Website: www.HaltingWinter.com

Monica Dupee: Kindness Over Niceness
Why Avoiding Hard Conversations Is Quietly Breaking Your Culture

Episode 317 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
Brought to you by Tyler Technologies

What if the biggest threat to your culture isn't conflict…but your desire to avoid it?

In this conversation, Seth Winterhalter chats with Monica Dupee, City Manager in Westerville, Ohio, who shares a candid look at the leadership lessons shaped through her journey, from small-town beginnings to leading complex municipal organizations through recession, political tension, and a global pandemic.

At the center of it all is a simple but powerful distinction: niceness and kindness are not the same.

Too often, leaders choose to be nice—avoiding hard conversations, softening expectations, and letting issues linger. But over time, that avoidance creates confusion, erodes trust, and quietly fractures culture.

Monica challenges that instinct and offers a better path—one rooted in clarity, accountability, and genuine care for people. Because real leadership isn't about keeping everyone comfortable. It's about telling the truth in a way that helps people grow.

Sponsored by:

• Tyler Technologies – the nation's leading provider of software solutions designed specifically for the public sector and local government. Learn more at https://tylertech.com/winter

• The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a global community for local government leaders who want ongoing support, practical insights, and a trusted peer network to help them lead with clarity and conviction. Learn more at https://haltingwinter.com/MLDC

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethwinterhalter
• Website: https://www.HaltingWinter.com