After taking the Ethical Leadership Style Questionnaire, I noticed a clear pattern in my responses—I most often chose the option “I would do what a good person would do.” That really resonates with how I try to lead. I focus on doing the right thing, even when it’s uncomfortable or comes with personal or professional risk. Integrity, loyalty, and doing what I believe is right tend to guide my decisions.

One thing this exercise highlighted for me is how much I value leading with character. But it also made me realize I sometimes lean heavily on personal values without always stepping back to consider the broader impact—like what might benefit the most people or how fairness shows up across the whole team.

To grow as an ethical leader, I want to be more intentional about balancing integrity with perspective. That means making space to think about long-term consequences, not just what feels right in the moment. I also want to get better at bringing my team into those conversations—being open about why I make the decisions I do, especially when they’re tough. I think that kind of transparency builds trust and helps shape a culture where others feel safe doing the same.

Keith, my observation of you and how you operate is in line with your assessment of yourself. You are a trusted friend. This is a great trait as long as it is not over emphasized when direct communication is important. 

Jim

Question 1: What score did you receive and why?

I scored 7 in Duty Ethics, significantly higher than the other ethical styles. The result of my Duty Ethics indicates that I strongly align with duty-based ethics, where ethical decisions are grounded in moral obligations, principles, and the inherent rightness of actions—regardless of outcomes. My responses reflect a deep commitment to upholding moral values and acting consistently with ethical standards that I believe are universally right. I view ethical leadership as an extension of these moral duties, and I aim to uphold these values in both personal and professional contexts.

Question 2: What did you learn about yourself because of taking this survey?

Through this survey, I learned that my inclination toward duty ethics may also lead to an overly rigid adherence to rules within my environment. While I see rules and principles as essential to ethical behavior, I recognize that I might apply them too strictly at times, potentially limiting flexibility in dynamic or complex situations. This self-awareness encourages me to reflect on when it might be appropriate to temper strict rule-following with thoughtful consideration of situational factors.

Question 3: What modifications or enhancements will you make to be a better ethical leader in the workplace?

To enhance my ethical leadership, I will work on balancing principled decision-making with situational awareness. This means learning to adapt my approach to the specific context while still aligning with the moral high ground that duty ethics emphasizes. I aim to thoughtfully evaluate when bending certain rules (without compromising core ethical principles) could better serve the greater good or foster fairness and compassion. By integrating flexibility with my moral commitments, I can model ethical leadership that is both principled and responsive to real-world complexities.

@keithryniakgmail-com I am glad to see the "long-term" consequences you mentioned here. Sometimes, I got caught up in following rules too much without looking ahead to what the consequences are, both in the long term and the short term, for the team. Thanks for the reminder!