This document outlines principles and processes for ethical leadership and decision making. It discusses the principle of moral discernment, which is the ability to evaluate actions from a perspective of good and evil. It also discusses the principle of well-formed conscience, which represents our ability to know right from wrong and make judgments accordingly. An ethical decision making model is presented that involves identifying the problem, potential issues, relevant guidelines, laws, consulting others, considering actions and consequences to determine the best course.

1. ETHICAL LEADERSHIP AND
MANAGEMENT

2. PRINCIPLE OF MORAL DISCERNMENT
Moral discernment is the ability to perceive and evaluate
the quality of actions and behaviors from the perspective of
good and evil.
 suggests that being morally discriminating is a way of life
that we must adopt and utilize in all aspects of our lives
as a commitment to God and to the dignity of other
human beings

3. PRINCIPLE OF WELL-FORMED CONSCIENCE
Conscience represents both the more general ability we have as human beings
to know what is good and right and the concrete judgments we make in
particular situations concerning what we should do or about what we have
already done.
A good conscience makes judgments that conform to reason and the good that
is willed by the Wisdom of God
 indicates that people are obligated to inform themselves about ethical
norms, incorporate that knowledge into their daily lives, act according to
that knowledge, and take responsibility for those actions

4. ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING MODEL

5. ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
Step 1: Identify the problem. Sometimes just realizing a particular situation is ethical can be the
important first step. Occasionally in our organizations, we may feel that it’s just the “way of doing
business” and not think to question the ethical nature.
Step 2: Identify the potential issues involved. Who could get hurt? What are the issues that could
negatively impact people and/or the company? What is the worst-case scenario if we choose to do
nothing?
Step 3: Review relevant ethical guidelines. Does the organization have policies and procedures in
place to handle this situation? For example, if a client gives you a gift, there may be a rule in
place as to whether you can accept gifts and if so, the value limit of the gift you can accept.
Step 4: Know relevant laws and regulations. If the company doesn’t necessarily have a rule against
it, could it be looked at as illegal?

6. ETHICAL DECISION-MAKING PROCESS
Step 5: Obtain consultation. Seek support from supervisors, coworkers, friends, and family, and
especially seek advice from people who you feel are moral and ethical.
Step 6: Consider possible and probable courses of action. What are all of the possible solutions
for solving the problem? Brainstorm a list of solutions—all solutions are options during this
phase.
Step 7: List the consequences of the probable courses of action. What are both the positive and
negative benefits of each proposed solution? Whom can the decision affect?
Step 8: Decide on what appears to be the best course of action. With the facts we have and the
analysis done, choosing the best course of action is the final step. There may not always be a
“perfect” solution, but the best solution is the one that seems to create the most good and the
least harm.