Table 3.

Example quotes, subthemes and themes

Illustrative quoteSubthemes (examples)Theme
“Always a bit like, from whose perspective is it ethical and whose values are these ” (P13)Complexity and boundary work in ethical leadershipTheme 1. The fundamental nature of ethical leadership
“It requires self-examination and self-awareness… it doesn’t just come as a birthright ” (P16)Developing ethical leadership competenceTheme 2. The leader’s internal ethical capability
“You can’t be ethical alone in an unethical group ” (P14)Community, peer support and psychological safetyTheme 3. Human interaction and trust
“We’re in a severe financial squeeze… that’s really steering decisions ” (P12)Economic and political constraints shaping leadershipTheme 4. Organisational structures and culture
“There’s so much responsibility, so there has to be power, too ” (P5)Hierarchical and communicative constraintsTheme 5. Ethical agency in hierarchical systems
Source(s): Authors’ own work

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