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.

In this episode of The Leadership Telos Podcast, we explore Phronesis, aka practical wisdom, the crown jewel of leadership and good character.

More than just knowledge, phronesis is the ability to discern what is truly good in complex situations and act on it. Aristotle saw phronesis as the virtue that guides all other virtues, while modern psychology frames it as the integration of knowledge, ethics, and action. For leaders today, phronesis means making wise, balanced decisions that serve both truth and people.

Together we’ll look at:

• Psychological roots of phronesis in decision-making, collaboration, and wisdom.
• Philosophical insights from Aristotle and Aquinas on balancing reason and desire.
• Theological foundations of wisdom from Scripture, reminding us that true discernment begins with God.
• Practical applications for leaders who want to avoid excess or deficiency in their decision-making.

This episode will equip you to reflect, pause, and choose wisely as you lead yourself, your family, and your organization.

📖 Scripture Reflections

• Proverbs Chapters 1-4
• James 1:5
• Colossians 1:9–10

✍️ Journal Prompts

1. Where in my leadership do I need to invite others into my decision-making to practice collective wisdom?
2. What virtues do I lean on when making decisions, and which ones do I neglect?
3. Where do I need to pause and seek God’s wisdom instead of rushing forward in my own understanding?
4. How would my leadership change if I intentionally practiced phronesis in one decision this week?

👉 Subscribe to The Leadership Telos Podcast so you won’t miss our next deep dive into the virtues that shape authentic leadership.

What does it mean to be a lifelong learner, and why does it matter for leaders? In this episode of The Leadership Telos, we explore how the love of learning shapes leaders into wiser, more resilient, and more fruitful people. Drawing on psychology, philosophy, and scripture, we’ll see how curiosity, humility, and continuous growth are at the heart of virtuous leadership.

Whether you’re leading yourself, your family, or an organization, this virtue invites you to step beyond comfort and embrace growth. Together, we’ll reflect on how learning transforms not only us, but also those we lead.

✨ Journal Prompts:

• Where in my life do I resist new learning because I think I “already know enough”?
• How has continued learning in one area of my life opened doors I didn’t expect?
• In what ways does my learning benefit others—not just myself?
• How can I intentionally create rhythms of reflection, study, or practice to keep growing?

📖 Scripture Prompts:

• Romans 15:4
• Colossians 1:9–12
• Proverbs 1:5

Tune in and discover how to lead with curiosity, openness, and creativity, and how lifelong learning helps us bear good fruit that lasts.