Ethical Leadership: Decision Making and Behavior - University Report

This report delves into the realm of ethical leadership, examining the core principles and frameworks that guide ethical decision-making and behavior. It begins by defining ethical leadership as a style rooted in ethical values, emphasizing respect for the rights and dignity of others. The report outlines the key components of ethical behavior, including moral sensitivity, moral judgment, moral focus, and moral character. It uses a real-world scenario involving Anne Dufourmantelle, a philosopher who sacrificed her life to save others, to illustrate these concepts. The discussion highlights how ethical actions are driven by moral obligations and responsibilities, referencing the ethical theory of deontology. The paper concludes by emphasizing the significance of ethical obligations and responsibilities in driving ethical decisions and actions, providing insights into various ethical perspectives and their practical applications.

Running head: ETHICAL LEADERSHIP
ETHICAL LEADERSHIP
Name of Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................2
Discussion............................................................................................................................2
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................3
References............................................................................................................................4

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Introduction
Ethical leadership refers to a leadership style which is guided by ethical values and
beliefs. Moreover ethical leaders know to respect the rights and dignity of others. The ethical
behavior of the leaders comprises of moral judgment, moral sensitivity, moral character and
moral motivation. The main aim of the paper is to understand the different perspectives of ethics
and understand the responsibility of individuals towards others. The paper will therefore discuss
about a scenario where an individual sacrificed their live for others in order to fulfill their
obligation and responsibility towards others (Brown & Treviño, 2006).
Discussion
The different ethical actions and decision making is based on moral sensitivity, moral
judgment, moral focus and moral character. Moral sensitivity includes identification of
recognition of an ethical issue in a particular scenario. Moral judgment includes- making
judgment or section of a particular course of action based on what they think is right and wrong.
Moral focus includes- After selection of a course of action, it becomes necessary to focus on that
particular course of actions (Brown, Treviño & Harrison, 2005). This is so because there can be
different ethical dilemmas where there will be different conflict on the values and the last
element is moral character. The last element includes implementation of ethical activities
irrespective of the risk involved.
A recent event in which one person sacrificed her life for another due to the sense of
responsibility and obligation towards others. A psychoanalyst and philosopher from France
named Anne Dufourmantelle “believed in living a life that embraced risk” and she died
following the same philosophy (Nytimes.com., 2020). Therefore Anne was an ethical leader as

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she understood the importance of understanding ones responsibility towards others and doing
what is right irrespective of the risks involved in that decision. Anne Dufourmantelle died by
drowning when she tried saving the lives of two children. The children were struggling in
swimming across a beach in the coast of pampelonne. Miss Anne was there on the beach when
the weather conditions had started changing. That is when she saw the two children and then
decided to help them immediately (Shapiro & Stefkovich, 2016). She was successful in her
attempt to save the children however she was pulled out of the water unresponsive.
From the incident the moral behavior of Anne can be understood. She identified an
ethical situation that was deciding whether to save the two children or not to save them (moral
sensitivity). Then she chose the best course of action or decided to save the children (moral
judgment), then she was determined to save the children showing a moral focus and the lastly
she decided to implement her decision irrespective of the risks involved in the scenario. From the
scenario, it has been understood that we have a moral responsibility towards others. And the
same is discussed in the theory of deontology. According to the ethical theory of deontology,
people have certain obligation towards others and the society at large. There is no limits in case
of ethical decision making and these decision are driven morally.
Conclusion
Therefore from the above discussion, it has been understood that ethical decision and
actions are usually driven by ethical obligations and responsibilities towards others. From the
paper, the different ethical perspectives have been understood and also the way the ethical
activities are driven by responsibility and obligation towards others.

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References
Brown, M. E., & Treviño, L. K. (2006). Ethical leadership: A review and future directions. The
leadership quarterly, 17(6), 595-616.
Brown, M. E., Treviño, L. K., & Harrison, D. A. (2005). Ethical leadership: A social learning
perspective for construct development and testing. Organizational behavior and human
decision processes, 97(2), 117-134.
Nytimes.com (2020). Philosopher Who Praised Risk Died Trying to Save Children From
Drowning. [online] Nytimes.com. Available at:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/25/world/europe/risk-philosopher-anne-
dufourmantelle-dies.html [Accessed 3 Mar. 2020].
Shapiro, J. P., & Stefkovich, J. A. (2016). Ethical leadership and decision making in education:
Applying theoretical perspectives to complex dilemmas. Routledge.