Show Notes: MLDC Book of the Week – "The Innovator's Dilemma" Episode 162 of The HaltingWinter Podcast (Part 1 of 5: "The Innovator’s Dilemma" Series)

Episode Overview

Seth Winterhalter launches a brand-new 5-part series on The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton M. Christensen, turning its private-sector lessons into actionable insight for municipal leadership. In this episode, Seth unpacks the core paradox: cities that are well-managed and process-driven can still fall behind when faced with disruptive change.

Through real municipal examples—from digital engagement to economic development shifts—Seth highlights how traditional success metrics and planning models can blind even great leaders to innovation happening at the margins. Learn how to navigate this tension by creating capacity for exploration alongside operational excellence.

Key Takeaways

• What the “innovator’s dilemma” looks like in a municipal context

• Why cities doing everything “right” can still fall behind in service delivery

• How disruption often starts on the edges—then reshapes resident expectations

• Why traditional comprehensive planning can miss emerging trends

• The organizational patterns that make innovation difficult (and how to overcome them)

• How to build parallel structures for experimentation without sacrificing reliability

This Week’s Journey in the MLDC

Monday: Understanding the innovator’s dilemma for municipal leaders Tuesday–Thursday: Deep dives on disruption awareness, resource allocation, and culture Friday: Virtual Book Club – Real-world applications and interactive discussion

Special: Free 7-Day MLDC Trial

Experience the Municipal Leadership Development Circle with full access to:

• All five episodes from The Innovator’s Dilemma series

• Daily blog reflections and frameworks

• Friday’s live Virtual Book Club conversation

• A nationwide community of municipal leaders 🔗 Start your free trial now at HaltingWinter.com

Resources Mentioned

• Book: The Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton Christensen

• Weekly Newsletter – The Leader’s Lens (free subscription)

• Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC): Learn More

Connect with Seth Winterhalter

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

• Website: www.HaltingWinter.com