Show Notes: Book of the Week – "The Speed of Trust" Episode 174 of The HaltingWinter Podcast The Cost of Distrust: Why Everything Takes Too Long in Local Government (Part 1 of 5: "The Speed of Trust" Series)

Episode Overview

This week, Seth Winterhalter kicks off a new series inside the MLDC focused on The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey, beginning with a hard truth municipal leaders can't afford to ignore: low trust is costing your city time, money, and momentum.

In this episode, Seth explores how trust acts as an unseen accelerant (or drag) in every system of local government, from software implementations and policy rollouts to budget conversations and community engagement. You'll learn the real difference between high-trust and low-trust environments and why trust isn't a soft skill—it's a measurable, economic force every leader must master.

Key Takeaways

• Why trust is a quantifiable economic driver in city government

• How low trust creates delays, costs, skepticism, and silos across departments

• The difference between the "trust tax" and the "trust dividend"

• Real municipal examples: software rollouts, project delays, and policy gridlock

• The Four Cores of Credibility every municipal leader must build: → Integrity → Intent → Capabilities → Results

• Three high-leverage trust-building behaviors: → Straight Talk → Transparency → Listen First

This Week's Journey in the MLDC

Monday: The economic and relational cost of low trust Tuesday–Thursday: Self-awareness, people-awareness, and language-awareness in leadership Friday: Real-world implementation and trust-turnaround stories from municipal leaders nationwide

Special: Free 7-Day MLDC Trial

This week only, get full access to:

• All five episodes in The Speed of Trust podcast series

• Daily blog content and leadership tools

• Live Friday Virtual Book Club discussion

• A growing national network of municipal leaders inside the MLDC → Start your free trial today at HaltingWinter.com/MLDC

Resources Mentioned

• Book: The Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey

• MLDC: The Municipal Leadership Development Circle

Connect with Seth

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

• Website: www.HaltingWinter.com