Show Notes: Book of the Week – Primal LeadershipEpisode 195 of The HaltingWinter Podcast (Part 1 of 5: Primal Leadership Series) Episode Title: The Emotional Ripple Effect: How Your Leadership Mood Shapes Your Entire City

Episode OverviewYour emotions don't just affect you; they ripple through your entire organization and into the community you serve.

In this kickoff episode of our Primal Leadership series, Seth Winterhalter explores how emotional intelligence drives municipal effectiveness in ways most leaders never recognize. Drawing from Daniel Goleman's research, we discover that the difference between thriving and struggling municipal organizations often comes down to one factor: the leader's emotional wake.

Whether you're navigating council tensions, managing crisis response, or building team morale, your emotional state becomes contagious before you say a single word. In this episode, we examine why emotional leadership isn't a "soft skill"—it's the foundation that determines whether your technical expertise can be successfully implemented.

Key Takeaways

• How emotional contagion amplifies in high-stakes municipal environments
• Why your stress during budget season affects your entire team's performance
• The connection between leader emotional regulation and community confidence
• How crisis leadership begins with emotional self-management
• Why traditional "just focus on the facts" approaches fall short in public sector leadership

This Week's Journey in the MLDC

• Monday: The emotional ripple effect and why it matters for municipal leaders
• Tuesday–Thursday: Deep dives into self-awareness, social awareness, and leadership style flexibility
• Friday: Virtual Book Club for live conversation and practical emotional intelligence tools

Join the MLDC: Summer Special

Now is the best time to join the MLDC, giving you access to:       ✔ All five episodes breaking down Primal Leadership for municipal applications      ✔ Daily blog reflections and emotional intelligence implementation tools      ✔ A community of city managers and municipal leaders developing leadership effectiveness      ✔ Our live, weekly Virtual Book Club session

➡ Join now at www.HaltingWinter.com

Resources Mentioned

• Book: Primal Leadership by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, Annie McKee
• MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

Connect with Seth

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