Episode 189 of The HaltingWinter Podcast
(Part 1 of 5: Dare to Lead Series)
Episode Title: Leadership Requires Vulnerability

If you think leadership is about power and perfection, think again.

In this first episode of our five-part series on Brené Brown’s Dare to Lead, Seth Winterhalter explores the foundational—and often uncomfortable—idea that real leadership begins with vulnerability. In the public sector, where scrutiny is constant and mistakes are public, vulnerability can feel risky. But according to Brown’s research, it’s also the birthplace of innovation, trust, and courageous leadership.

This episode unpacks what vulnerability really is (and isn’t), and how it becomes the foundation for stronger teams, braver conversations, and more resilient cultures in local government.

• Why vulnerability is the prerequisite for trust, connection, and accountability

• The difference between oversharing and leading with openness

• How fear of failure and self-protection erode effective leadership

• Why leaders who avoid vulnerability often create cultures of silence and burnout

• How embracing discomfort leads to better decisions and stronger relationships

• Monday: The myth of strength vs. the reality of vulnerability in leadership

• Tuesday–Thursday: Digging into courage, trust-building, and fear-based leadership traps

• Friday: Live Virtual Mastermind – Peer reflection, challenges, and implementation strategies

Join the Municipal Leadership Development Circle and get access to:
✔ All five episodes in the Dare to Lead podcast series
✔ Daily blog reflections and implementation guides
✔ Friday’s national Virtual Book Club
✔ A thriving network of city managers and municipal leaders across the U.S.

➡ Start your free 7-day trial now at HaltingWinter.com/MLDC

• Book: Dare to Lead by Brené Brown

• Learn more: www.haltingwinter.com/mldc

• Weekly Newsletter: The Leader’s Lens

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

• Website: www.HaltingWinter.com