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Ethical Leadership Style Questionnaire (ELSQ)

Ethical Leadership Style Questionnaire (ELSQ) Test

See which ethical leadership style you use in just 2 minutes. Get a clear snapshot of your strengths and growth areas to guide coaching, training, and team culture.

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Questions: 102 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

27,018 views

2,370 completions

1,925 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

59/100

Ethical Leadership Style Questionnaire (ELSQ)

Measures the extent to which leadership behavior and decisions align with ethical principles and foster trust within a team.

Developing alignment

Moderate alignment

Strong alignment

0 – 39: Developing alignment | 40 – 69: Moderate alignment | 70 – 100: Strong alignment

A score of 59 indicates a moderate level of ethical alignment in leadership, suggesting generally principled decision-making with some inconsistency across situations.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

People Managers and Team Leads

41%OF USERS

They take it to see how their day-to-day decisions, feedback, and accountability practices reflect ethical leadership.

Leadership Program Participants

34%OF USERS

They use it as a quick self-check during training or coaching to identify strengths and blind spots in values-based leadership.

HR and Culture Champions

25%OF USERS

They take it to spark discussions about standards, role-modeling, and the ethical climate within teams and organizations.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

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Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

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Used in 52+ countries

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Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Ethical Leadership Style Questionnaire, ELSQ (ELSQE)

Average

36.9

Normal range

24.7 — 49.2

min.

max.

100

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It identifies which of six ethical leadership styles best fits current leadership behavior. It summarizes how moral principles are expressed through different leadership approaches.

Is this a test of whether someone is ethical or unethical?

No. It provides a style profile and does not assign an overall moral judgment.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

Completion typically takes about two minutes. The questionnaire contains 10 items.

How should responses be selected?

Select the option that most closely matches typical behavior in work-related leadership situations. Use first impressions and avoid overthinking individual items.

Can the results be used for diagnosis or formal evaluation?

No. Results are intended for self-reflection and development and should be interpreted alongside other information.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Ethical Leadership Style Questionnaire (ELSQ) Test - Symptoms and Signs

leadership

This self-report measure is designed to characterize how an individual typically approaches ethics in leadership situations. The Ethical Leadership Style Questionnaire (ELSQ) provides a brief profile of ethical leadership tendencies rather than a pass-fail judgment of being “ethical” or “unethical.” It was developed by Linda K. Treviño and Michael E. Brown.

The instrument consists of 10 items and typically requires about 2 minutes to complete. Responses are intended to support reflection and discussion in leadership development, coaching, or organizational contexts, and results should be interpreted as descriptive indicators rather than as a diagnostic evaluation.

When used appropriately, the Ethical Leadership Style Questionnaire (ELSQ) can help identify perceived strengths and potential areas for growth in ethically oriented leadership behaviors, and may inform conversations about values, expectations, and workplace culture.

Author: Linda K. Treviño, Michael E. Brown

Literature: Northouse, P. G. Leadership: Theory and practice. SAGE Publications. 2021.

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