This article, authored by executive coaches Severin Sorensen ★ and Ben Griffin emerges from our professional and intellectual interests in the term Arete, and an in-depth exploration of over 67 sources examining the definition, application, and meaning of arete within the business domain. Our goal was to explore arete as a potential lodestar value—a guiding principle to anchor excellence as a cultural norm for organizations. The insights presented here are the result of collaborative research, enhanced by Google Gemini Deep Researcher and a custom-trained GPT model specifically tailored for AI strategy and management consulting.
This article was originally published on LinkedIn by Severin Sorensen and has been approved for placement on Arete Coach. Scroll to continue reading or click here to read the original article.
Picture this: your organization humming with energy, every employee striving for their best—not because they have to, but because they want to.
What if excellence wasn’t a target to hit but a spark waiting to ignite? What if, as a leader, your role wasn’t to demand excellence but to create the conditions for it to emerge naturally, authentically, and powerfully?
This isn’t wishful thinking—it’s the essence of an ancient Greek ideal called arete.
Pronounced “ar-uh-tay,” arete is the pursuit of excellence in every dimension of life. For the Greeks, it wasn’t about external recognition or perfection—it was about fulfilling one’s potential and living in alignment with one’s highest purpose. Heroes like Achilles sought it in courage, while Odysseus embodied it through resilience and cunning. Even Penelope, often overlooked, demonstrated arete through loyalty and quiet strength.
In today’s complex, fast-paced world, arete offers CEOs and executives a timeless framework for redefining leadership and culture. It calls us to lead with purpose, foster intrinsic motivation, and create workplaces where excellence flows naturally from within.
Let’s explore how arete can become the lodestar of your leadership and culture—and how it can inspire your team to new heights.
The Timeless Principles of Arete: Lessons for Modern Leaders
Arete isn’t about pushing harder. It’s about aligning with purpose, values, and potential. When leaders embrace this mindset, they unlock the conditions for sustainable excellence. Here’s how the principles of Arete can transform your leadership:
1. Wisdom: Cultivate Curiosity and Reflection
Great leaders know that wisdom doesn’t come from having all the answers—it comes from asking the right questions. Wisdom invites us to pause, reflect, and seek diverse perspectives before making decisions.
The Business Case: Leaders who practice self-reflection make better decisions, navigate uncertainty with clarity, and inspire trust in their teams. Research from Harvard Business School shows that reflective leaders are more adaptive and effective during times of change.
Exercise: The Wisdom Pause Take five minutes at the start or end of your day to journal:“How am I showing up as a leader today?”“What questions haven’t I asked that could lead to new insights?”“Am I making decisions aligned with my values and long-term vision?”
2. Courage: Create Psychological Safety for Innovation
In ancient myths, courage meant facing enemies on the battlefield. For leaders today, courage means creating environments where people feel safe speaking up, taking risks, and challenging the status quo.
The Business Case: Psychological safety, as identified by Google’s Project Aristotle, is the number one predictor of high-performing teams. When employees feel safe, innovation thrives, and engagement soars.
Exercise: The Courage Roundtable: Host a team discussion in which everyone shares a moment when they took a bold risk or made a mistake that led to growth. Celebrate these moments as learning opportunities and reinforce that courage is valued in your culture.
3. Humanity: Foster Empathy and Connection
Penelope’s quiet resilience reminds us that excellence doesn’t have to shout. True arete is seen in the care and empathy we extend to others.
The Business Case: Leaders who demonstrate empathy foster stronger relationships, increase employee retention, and build cultures of inclusion. According to a 2021 study by Catalyst, empathetic leaders inspire higher levels of innovation and engagement.
Exercise: The Story Circle Invite your team to share stories about when they felt most valued at work. What actions or behaviors made the difference? Use these stories to inform how you can strengthen connections within your organization.
4. Discipline: Balance Vision with Focus and Consistency
Discipline isn’t about rigid rules; it’s about staying grounded in your purpose and priorities. Arete teaches us that excellence lies in the “golden mean”—the balance between excess and deficiency.
The Business Case: Focused and consistent leaders avoid burnout, inspire confidence, and model sustainable success for their teams.
Exercise: The Balance Check Reflect on your leadership practices:Where are you overextending (excess)?Where are you holding back (deficiency)?What adjustments can help you find balance?
5. Transcendence: Inspire Shared Purpose
Arete invites us to transcend self-interest and align with something greater. For organizations, this means defining a purpose that inspires every employee to contribute their best.
The Business Case: Purpose-driven companies outperform their peers. A 2020 McKinsey study found that employees who find meaning in their work are more engaged, innovative, and committed to their organizations.
Exercise: The Purpose Map Collaboratively define your organization’s purpose. Then, invite employees to reflect on how their personal values connect to this shared mission. Share these reflections across the team to create alignment and inspiration.
Arete as the Lodestar of Your Culture
What would your organization look like if arete became the foundation of your culture? Imagine a workplace where:
Teams are intrinsically motivated to achieve excellence.
Leaders inspire through alignment, not pressure.
Employees see their work as a reflection of their values and purpose.
The ancient Greeks understood something timeless: true greatness isn’t forced—it’s drawn from within. When leaders embody arete, they inspire their teams to live fully, lead boldly, and contribute meaningfully. Excellence stops being a metric and becomes a way of being.
Your Call to Action: What’s Your Arete Story?
As you reflect on this concept, ask yourself:
What does excellence look like in my leadership?
How can I create a culture where excellence flows naturally from within?
What’s one small step I can take today to align my actions with my highest purpose?
Arete isn’t just an ancient idea—it’s a challenge, a compass, and a call to greatness. Let it guide your leadership and inspire your team.
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