Show Notes: Book of the Week – "Quiet" Episode 168 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

Episode Overview

In this opening episode, Seth Winterhalter introduces Susan Cain’s Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking through the lens of municipal leadership—and challenges the long-held assumption that louder leadership is better leadership.

This isn’t just a conversation about introverts. It’s about power dynamics in meetings, hiring decisions, team structures, and public engagement. Seth shares how city leaders can build more balanced, inclusive cultures by recognizing and elevating quieter forms of strength—often hiding in plain sight.

Key Takeaways

• Why some of your best thinkers may be the quietest voices in the room

• The danger of the “Extrovert Ideal” in public leadership

• How insight often arrives in silence, not speech

• Practical ways to structure meetings, hiring, and communication to include all styles

• The difference between volume and value in leadership

• Real municipal examples of how introverted insight changed the game

This Week’s Journey in the MLDC

Monday: Why quiet strength is often overlooked—and how to start seeing it Tuesday–Thursday: Fixing meetings, redesigning teams, and rethinking public engagement Friday: Virtual Book Club – Applying introvert wisdom to local government

Special: Free 7-Day MLDC Trial

Your free trial includes:

• All five episodes in the Quiet series

• Daily blog reflections and leadership tools

• Entry to Friday’s Virtual Book Club with city managers across the U.S.

• Full access to the MLDC’s learning library and community platform 🔗 Start your trial today at HaltingWinter.com

Resources Mentioned

• Book: Quiet by Susan Cain

• MLDC: The Municipal Leadership Development Circle

• Weekly Newsletter – The Leader’s Lens

Connect with Seth

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

• Website: www.HaltingWinter.com