We might also consider that how ‘morally right’ is defined has some cultural relevance to it. And yet, there are basic behaviors that are ‘good’ for people in any culture, and others that are bad. Perhaps the challenge of global leadership is developing an instinct for that which is virtuous and leading perspective through a lens of right reason.
‘Moral excellence comes about as a result of habit. We become just by doing just acts, temperate by doing temperate acts, brave by doing brave acts.’ -Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics (350 BCE) (Stanford, 2018)

‘Lead them with virtue and regulate them by the rules of propriety, and they will have a sense of shame and, moreover, set themselves right’. -Confucius (551-479 BCE) (Resick, C.J. et al., 2011)
Underlying the notion of moral leadership are virtues. Aristotle’s explanation of virtues is indirectly supported by scientific research too in that repeated actions condition the mental wiring of the brain for that to become a more permanent behavior. Practical wisdom (prudence) must be present for a seemingly virtuous act to truly be virtuous, which is simply balanced reasoning (being wise). In this 21st century, we have lost sight of this as people have lost sight of virtue, confusing it with rights. For an act to be truly virtuous, all virtues need be present. For example, for an act to be prudent it must have temperance. The reasoning in daily choices develops into practical wisdom which turns to serve future choices. The heuristics of our decision making are formed, and we are more likely to use ethical reasoning the more often we do so. In the process, one builds a personal brand of integrity and consistency regardless of the situation.

Thoughts?