Reflection Post for Spring
Title: Understanding My Virtues, Values, and the Path to Ethical
Leadership
By delving deeply into my values and principles, I realized how they play a
vital role in the way I make decisions and lead others. Reflecting on my
strengths I am naturally inclined towards kindness, empathy, and patience.
According to my Birkman report, I am an extrovert and energetic, which
further enhances my ability to create positive relationships. These qualities
play a pivotal part in value-based leadership as they foster trust, clear
communication, and mutual respect.
The most important trait of moral leadership is honesty. The core principle of
ethics first leadership displays values like "imagination, compassion,
empathy, and discernment" as core virtues (Martinez-Saenz, 2009, as cited
in Regent University, 2025)., backed by several research and studies. I am
committed to being honest and transparent in every interaction because I
firmly believe integrity helps in building trust and respect. Furthermore, I
aspire to be more concentrated on being fair treating everyone with dignity
and being receptive to other opinions. These values navigate my decisions to
stay true to what‘s right and remain neutral when things our of control.
Additionally, being proactive resonates with me on how I lead others and be
accountable for my actions.
My personality influences my decision-making in both positive and
challenging ways. My extroverted nature helps me communicate effectively,
motivate others, and build teamwork. However, I sometimes struggle with
patience, especially when things don't go as planned or when I face conflicts.
I tend to want quick solutions but recognize that ethical leadership often
requires careful consideration and empathy. Research on virtue ethics
emphasizes that "the cardinal virtues of prudence, courage, temperance,
and justice are considered the most important" for leadership development
(PMC, 2020). I want to develop greater patience and self-control to handle
such situations better. I need to work on being more patient and managing
my impulses in a more effective manner while handling challenging
situations by practicing deep breath techniques before reacting to stressful
situations and thinking about how to approach the conversation productively.
In terms of virtues, I hold loyalty, compassion, and humility as important.
These virtues guide me to act ethically by prioritizing the well-being of others
and remaining humble about my achievements. When making decisions, I
ask myself whether my actions are fair, respectful, and aligned with my
values. This approach helps me maintain consistency and integrity as a
leader. Ethical leadership research shows that leaders who demonstrate
"normatively appropriate conduct through personal actions and interpersonal
relations" have positive effects on follower outcomes (Brown et al., 2005, as
cited in PMC, 2018).
Regarding the 7 Habits, I actively practice "Begin with the End in Mind" by
setting clear goals and visions for my projects and personal growth. For
example, I plan my career path and personal development to ensure I am
working toward meaningful objectives. I also try to practice "Put First Things
First" by prioritizing tasks that align with my core values and long-term goals.
Covey's principle-centered leadership is "based on the idea that both the
success of any corporate, nonprofit, or family organization and the happiness
of any individual begin with an awareness of timeless principles — such as
integrity, courage, accountability, compassion, and fidelity" (Journal of the
American Dietetic Association, 1994). However, I want to improve on
"Synergize," which emphasizes collaboration and harnessing diverse
perspectives to create better solutions. I believe working more effectively
with others will help me become a more ethical and inclusive leader.
To develop as an ethical leader, I aim to implement several strategies. First, I
will practice active listening, making sure I understand others' perspectives
before making decisions. Second, I plan to seek feedback regularly from
peers and mentors to identify my blind spots. Third, I will allocate time for
mindfulness to augment my tolerance level and manage emotions to
respond with greater patience. Fourth, I want to venture into studying
different aspects of ethical decision-making, so I am better equipped to
handle challenges with a heightened sense of clarity. Research shows that
Covey’s 7 habits describe a journey of evolution where individuals grow from
being controlled by external forces to being resourceful and capable of
collaborating effectively (Chee, Tan, & Mohd Said, 2022) Ultimately, I aim to
sustain my growth mindset through thoughtful consumption of strategic
leadership principles and deploying these interpretations into real-world
applications.
All in all, my morally responsible decisions on how I approach leadership are
guided by a combination of ethical beliefs, personal values, and character
traits. While I feel confident about my abilities, I am also aware that
sustaining growth comes from continuous learning. By remaining authentic
to my root principles and following Covey’s habits, I hope to become a leader
who can create a positive impact overall.
References
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.
Johnson, C. D. (2012). Meeting the ethical challenges of leadership: Casting
light or shadow (4th ed.) by Craig E. Johnson. Organization Management
Journal, 9(3), 202-205.
Journal of the American Dietetic Association. (1994). Effective leadership
begins with seven habits: An interview with Stephen R. Covey. Journal of the
American Dietetic Association, 94(1), 24-26.
[Link]
PMC. (2018). Ethical leadership and follower moral actions: Investigating an
emotional linkage. PMC. [Link]
PMC. (2020). Leadership and ethics: Virtue ethics as a model for leadership
development. PMC. [Link]
Regent University. (2025). A review of the literature concerning ethical
leadership in organizations. Emerging Leadership Journeys.
[Link]
leadership-definition-by-authors/
Chee, K. L., Tan, K. H., & Mohd Said, N. E. (2022). The impact of Stephen
Covey’s 7 habits on students’ academic performance during the COVID-19
pandemic. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational
Research, 21(1), 109–126. [Link]