What happens when an organization is led by virtue instead of vanity? In this episode of The Leadership Telos, Dr. Maegan Winegar explores how leaders can intentionally build a culture grounded in moral character — where people thrive, teams trust, and performance follows purpose.

We’ll draw lessons from companies like Southwest Airlines and Chick-fil-A, whose leaders embedded humility, gratitude, and service into their organizational DNA — and contrast them with what happens when leadership drifts from virtue, as seen in Uber’s early culture crisis and Nokia's fall from the top.

Through the lenses of philosophy, psychology, and theology, this episode offers a roadmap for creating a virtue-driven culture that sustains excellence even under pressure.

💡 In This Episode You’ll Learn:

• Why every team has a telos — and how to define it
• How virtue-based habits shape collective behavior
• The psychological contagion of virtue vs. vice
• Practical ways to infuse virtue into values, rhythms, and rewards
• The biblical model of grace-filled, servant leadership

📖 Scripture Reflections:

• Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt.”
  How can my leadership ‘season’ my team with grace and truth?
• Philippians 2:3–4 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition... but in humility value others above yourselves.”
  How can I embody humility in my daily leadership decisions?
• Matthew 20:26–28 “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”
  How does virtuous leadership reshape my view of power and success?

🪞 Journal Prompts for Reflection:

1. What virtues define your current team culture? Are they explicitly or implicitly defined?
2. How do my daily habits as a leader reinforce or contradict those virtues?
3. What is my team’s telos, its ultimate purpose beyond success?
4. What one change could I make this week to align my leadership systems with that telos?

✨ Join the conversation:
Share your insights on Instagram or LinkedIn @The_Leadership_Telos and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss a new virtue in action.