Excellence, Skill or Value?

Zainab Aderounmu

March 25, 2026

Excellence has become a buzzword; everybody claims to value excellence and to do things excellently. It’s such a coveted value that it appears to be something you either have or don’t have. But the art of being excellent isn’t innate or genetic; it’s a skill that can be mastered through practice and commitment to the process.

The first and most important thing to know about building a culture of excellence is that it is in the process of how you do things, not the outcome. I’ll explain that. Imagine you’re asked to prepare a document; what is your disposition towards the process? Do you just slap something together and submit it for the sake of doing, or are you committed to the step-by-step method?

Choosing to execute a task at the highest point possible does a few things for you. First, it boosts your self-confidence. Knowing you have high performance standards helps you believe in your own success, and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. The more you reach for the best version of something, the more you attain success. Second, excellence also sustains your professional integrity and reinforces your reputation. People know that when they want high-quality work, they can always turn to you. Therefore, you become highly sought after.

In her book, ‘E for Excellence’, award-winning author Temilade Salami says that when you’re known for excellence, people stop questioning or second-guessing your work and instead rely on it immediately. This high level of trust yields significant rewards, enabling you to outpace peers who do only the bare minimum.

However, if excellence is a skill, not an innate ability, how exactly do you master such a rewarding skill? Think back to a work that you’re most proud of. I remember when I wrote my undergraduate thesis, I wanted to produce the best attainable work. That single mindset reflected in everything I did, including how often I edited the title. Each paragraph was carefully written and reconsidered for publishing. The first question in determining if you’ve done excellent work is ‘Am I truly proud of this work?” or “If my name is slapped across this document, will I proudly defend it?” That changes everything. Then, ask yourself, “Is this the best I can produce with the resources available?”

Many articles tell you why it’s important to build a culture of excellence, but not enough say how. Temilade asks to check three things: Is the content factual? Is the mode of delivery efficient? And, will it outlive you? Inherently, you want to ensure that every assumption you make is accurate and relevant. Then, ensure the presentation is easily digestible; finally, build systems that sustain your work. Building a culture of excellence is not a once-in-a-blue-moon endeavour; it must be reinforced with every decision and action. Define your ideal, and do not deviate from it.

Excellence is not a gift, but a skill that takes practice. We do not act “rightly” because we are “excellent”; in fact, we achieve “excellence” by acting “rightly”. ―Plato

Zainab ADEROUNMU A. W. is a First Class graduate of English Language and the Overall Best Graduating Student from the Lagos State University, Lagos Nigeria. She’s a professional Master of Ceremonies, known as The Hijabi Compere , a public speaking coach and Communications Professional. She is currently a Youth advisor to the European Union where she doubles as the Spokesperson and Head of Communications & PR for the Youth Sounding Board.