Show Notes: Book of the Week – The Ideal Team PlayerEpisode 244 of The HaltingWinter Podcast

Why do some technically competent local government leaders struggle while others thrive?

This week in the MLDC, Seth Winterhalter explores Patrick Lencioni's "The Ideal Team Player" and reveals the three character virtues that matter more than credentials in determining leadership success. Seth unpacks why hiring for competence without assessing character leaves communities with leaders who can't build trust, drive improvement, or navigate the complex human dynamics that define public service. If you've ever wondered why some of your best ideas get ignored, why your team lacks motivation, or why your technical solutions fail due to political dynamics, this episode connects those pain points directly to missing character virtues.

Key Insights:

• The Three Essential Virtues: Humble, hungry, and people-smart and why these character traits matter more in government than private sector leadership
• The Humility Problem: How ego-driven leadership destroys trust in politically charged environments, even when leaders have the right answers
• The Hunger Gap: Why organizations stagnate when leaders and staff do only the minimum, and how drive becomes the engine for innovation despite resource constraints
• People Intelligence Over Technical Expertise: Why emotional intelligence and the ability to read situations matter more than policy knowledge in determining leadership effectiveness
• Character as Survival Strategy: How these three virtues help leaders weather political transitions, budget crises, and community conflicts
• The Compound Effect: Why individual character development transforms entire organizational cultures and community outcomes

Join the MLDC for the Complete 5-Part Series

The Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC) is a network of local government leaders from across North America, including city/county managers, administrators, and department heads, giving you access to: ✔ A weekly podcast series breaking down one book for municipal applications ✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation tools ✔ Our live, weekly, virtual mastermind session ✔ Monthly webinars with relevant training from local gov leaders

➡ Learn more at www.HaltingWinter.com

Resources Mentioned

• Book: The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni
• MLDC Info: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

Connect with Seth

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