Ethical Leadership

Awareness & Understanding

Leadership is more than being in charge — it's about doing what's right even when it's hard. Start by thinking about leaders you admire. They can be famous or someone you know personally. What makes them trustworthy? Explore the iCivics game "Do I Have a Right?" to see how ethical decisions play out in real situations — it's free at iCivics.org. Write down three qualities of an ethical leader and find one real example of a leader in Utah — a mayor, school principal, or community organizer — who showed those qualities. Share what you found with someone you trust. You're ready for the next step when you can name three qualities of ethical leadership and give a real Utah example of each.

Research & Investigation

Now investigate what ethical leadership looks like in your community. Research one issue facing Salt Lake City — housing, air quality, youth programs, or public transit — and find out how local leaders are responding. Use the Salt Lake City government website (slc.gov) or Utah Legislature's site (le.utah.gov) to read about real decisions being made. Look up one city council member or community leader and what they stand for. Take notes on: What problem are they addressing? What values guide their decisions? Does their action match their words? You're ready for the next step when you can describe a real local issue, name a leader working on it, and explain whether their actions reflect ethical leadership.

Planning & Preparation

Choose a situation in your school, neighborhood, or community where ethical leadership is needed. Maybe it's unfair treatment of a group, a safety concern, or a lack of opportunity for some students. Plan how you would lead with integrity: Who are the people affected? What's the fair and honest thing to do? What would you say, and how would you listen? Write a one-page leadership plan that includes the problem, your values-based approach, three specific actions you'll take, and how you'll stay accountable. Practice your opening statement out loud. You're ready for the next step when you have a written leadership plan with a clear problem, value-based approach, and three concrete actions.

Taking Action

Put your leadership plan into action. Take at least one real step: speak up at a school meeting, write a letter to a community leader, organize a group conversation about the issue, or volunteer with a local nonprofit. Use Utah Nonprofits Association (utahnonprofits.org) to find organizations aligned with your cause. During your action, focus on listening as much as speaking. Keep a brief journal: What did you do? How did people respond? Did you stay true to your values when things got uncomfortable? You're ready for the next step when you've taken at least one real leadership action and written a journal entry about what happened and what you learned.

Leadership & Expansion

Ethical leaders don't just act once — they build others up too. Share what you've learned about ethical leadership with at least one other person. Mentor a younger student, lead a discussion in your class, or create a short guide on "How to Lead with Integrity" for your school's student council. Connect with a local leadership program — check out Salt Lake City Youth Council or Utah Youth Leadership programs. Reflect on a moment when you felt most aligned with your values during this quest. You're ready for the next step when you've shared your leadership experience with at least one other person and helped them think about their own values.

Impact & Reflection

Reflect on the full journey. Write a two-paragraph response: In the first, describe the specific actions you took and what happened. In the second, reflect on your values — did they hold up under pressure? Were there moments you compromised, and what would you do differently? Count how many people you directly influenced through your leadership actions. Share your reflection with a trusted adult or mentor and ask for honest feedback. Set one ongoing commitment — a habit or value — you'll carry forward as a leader. You're ready for the next step when you've written your reflection, received feedback, and stated one leadership commitment you'll keep beyond this quest.