Background: The lack of ethical leaders and the escalation of unethical behaviors is one of the most serious challenges that organizations face and therefore the study of the role of leadership in the formation of ethical behaviors has been highlighted. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify and prioritize the most important behavioral characteristics of ethical leaders that can guide the implementation of ethical leadership in the organization.
Method: This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-survey in terms of data collection. The first statistical population was academic and organizational experts with a sample size of 15 people for interviews (selection by purposive sampling method up to the stage of theoretical saturation) and 37 people for distribution of questionnaires (selection by snowball method). The second statistical population was the basic, middle and senior managers of government organizations in Isfahan province with 2000 people with a sample size of 322 people (using Cochran's formula) who were selected by cluster random sampling. Data were collected through library studies, interviews and review of texts and questionnaires, and Friedman ranking test, correlation analysis and factor analysis were used to analyze them.
Results: 101 indicators were identified and prioritized as the most important behavioral indicators of ethical leaders, which are classified into 18 key characteristics for these leaders. The results were evaluated and confirmed in the statistical population of managers of government organizations in Isfahan province. According to Friedman ranking test, the characteristics of fairness and justice, honesty and integrity, respect, altruism, service, role model of moral behavior, optimism and benevolence, behavioral stability and moral advice and guidance are the highest priority.
Conclusion: As a result of this study, the most important behavioral characteristics of moral leaders were identified, which are categorized and prioritized in key characteristics. These indicators are a practical guide to the implementation of ethical leadership in the organization and clearly define the behavioral pattern of leaders.