Show Notes: Book of the Week – Who Moved My Cheese?Episode 210 of The HaltingWinter Podcast (Part 1 of 5: Who Moved My Cheese? Series) Episode Title: When Change Catches Municipal Leaders Off Guard

Episode Overview

The federal grant you've relied on for three years just got eliminated. Your most experienced department head announced retirement. The state passed new regulations that completely change how you deliver services. Your first instinct might be frustration, analysis, or hoping things return to normal but what if these moments are actually opportunities to become a more effective leader?

In this kickoff episode of our Who Moved My Cheese? series, Seth Winterhalter explores how local government leaders can transform their relationship with constant change. Drawing from Spencer Johnson's deceptively simple parable about four characters navigating unexpected shifts, we discover practical frameworks for leading through the uncertainty that defines municipal environments.

Whether you're facing budget cuts, organizational restructuring, or community growth that's overwhelming existing systems, Johnson's insights about change leadership offer powerful tools. In this episode, we examine why the most effective municipal leaders focus their energy on adapting to new realities rather than mourning what used to work, and how this mindset shift transforms everything about your leadership approach.

Key Takeaways

• Why waiting for conditions to return to "normal" is the most dangerous assumption in municipal leadership
• How to distinguish between protecting core principles and defending outdated methods unnecessarily
• The critical difference between reactive and proactive leadership during organizational transitions
• Johnson's framework for recognizing when attachment to familiar approaches prevents effective community service
• How to build change anticipation into your planning assumptions without becoming paralyzed by uncertainty

This Week's Journey in the MLDC

• Monday: Understanding why change leadership beats change management for municipal effectiveness
• Tuesday–Thursday: Deep dives into early warning systems, quick action principles, and releasing approaches that no longer serve your community
• Friday: Virtual Book Club for live conversation and practical change leadership implementation strategies

Join the MLDC: Summer Special

Now is the best time to join the MLDC, giving you access to:       ✔ All five episodes breaking down Who Moved My Cheese? for public sector 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: Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
• MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

Connect with Seth

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