Ethical Leadership Development Flashcards

A leader discovers that a high-performing employee has been falsifying expense reports. What is the most ethically sound first step?

Answer: Conduct a fair investigation before taking any action

Ethical leadership requires due process — a fair investigation must precede any disciplinary action to ensure justice and accuracy.

Which leadership style is most closely associated with inspiring followers through shared values and moral purpose?

Answer: Transformational leadership

Transformational leadership motivates followers by appealing to higher ideals, shared values, and moral purpose rather than just rewards and punishments.

An ethical leader receives credit for a team achievement that was largely driven by subordinates. What should the leader do?

Answer: Redirect credit to the team members who contributed

Ethical leaders practice humility and fairness by recognizing the contributions of those who did the work.

What does 'tone at the top' primarily refer to in the context of ethical leadership?

Answer: The ethical climate set by senior leadership through their behavior and decisions

'Tone at the top' describes how senior leaders' attitudes and behaviors shape the entire organization's ethical culture.

A manager is pressured by executives to meet targets by cutting safety corners. The most ethical response is to:

Answer: Refuse and escalate the concern through proper channels

Ethical leaders must resist pressure to compromise safety and use established channels to escalate legitimate concerns.

Which of the following best demonstrates ethical accountability in leadership?

Answer: Acknowledging mistakes and taking responsibility for them

Ethical accountability means owning both successes and failures transparently, rather than deflecting blame.

In ethical leadership development, 'moral courage' is best defined as:

Answer: The willingness to act ethically even when it is personally costly or unpopular

Moral courage is the disposition to do what is right despite personal risk, social pressure, or adverse consequences.