Hello Rotarians,

 

Lately, I have been thinking about the 4-way test. And I would like to share some of my thoughts on its meaning to me as a Rotarian. But first, let’s delve a bit more into the 4-way test.

 

 

 

One of the most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics in the world is the Rotary "4-Way Test." It was created by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor in 1932 when he was asked to take charge of the Chicago based Club Aluminum Company, which was facing bankruptcy. Taylor looked for a way to save the struggling company mired in depression-caused financial difficulties. He drew up a 24-word code of ethics for all employees to follow in their business and professional lives. The 4-Way Test became the guide for sales, production, advertising and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company was credited to this simple philosophy.

Herb Taylor became president of Rotary International during 1954-55. The 4-Way Test was adopted by Rotary in 1943 and has been translated into more than 100 languages and published in thousands of ways. The message should be known and followed by all Rotarians.

 

 

Before I became familiar with the Four-Way Test, I typically thought about what I was going to say or do and how it would affect me. I did not always think about how it was going to affect those around me. Now when I am getting ready to say or do something I employ the Four-Way test.

 

The first question of the Four-Way Test is, “Is it the truth?” That gives me pause. Is what I am about to say the truth? Like everyone else in this world I have lied. They may not have been big lies, but lies nonetheless. Now, before I say something, I consider it more.

 

As a mother, wife, and a professional, my life is hectic. And despite the fact that my daughters are nearly all grown up, I still feel they depend on me for a lot of things. “Mom, can you make my next appointment for the dentist please?” Or “Mom, can you switch my laundry out and put it in the dryer while I’m going to the store?” “Please don’t forget,” they add. Well, I forget things. I usually need my notepad or phone calendar to ensure I get to appointments. When my daughters ask me if I made that appointment or switched the laundry, and I haven’t, I feel guilty. It’s easy to say, “Oh sure made your appointment,” or “I was just about to switch the laundry.” But then I stop. Instead, I tell the truth, followed by an apology.

 

The second question: “Is it fair to all concerned?” I consider this question when I am preparing to say or do something. This question gives me a bit more pause than the first question. My decisions may not always be fair to everyone because I can’t know how everyone will react, but I can make sure I am not going to purposefully hurt someone. When my daughters were little, I couldn’t come home without a piece of candy just for one of them; I had to buy two. That is fair, right?

 

When making a serious decision in our lives that involves other people, we need to consider their thoughts and opinions. For instance, when I told my Mom I was going to come to the United States to work, I was excited and I couldn’t wait to get on the plane. But I hadn’t considered my mother’s feelings. Was she going to be happy or sad? In the end she was happy; she always wanted the best for me. But she was sad too, as it meant we weren’t going to be as close as we used to be. I asked her if she was going to be ok and she said yes; she would never stop me from chasing my dreams. It’s hard, but always consider other people’s feelings when you say or do something.

 

The third question is “Will it build goodwill and better friendships?” To me, having goodwill toward someone means there are shared friendly feelings grounded in trust. For this one, I will use an example from my daily interactions at work. I deal with clients, mostly happy ones, but on occasion, unhappy ones as well, and those are not fun. When I receive an angry email (I won’t go into specifics here, but I’m sure you could all insert a similar shared experience), I try to empathize with them and look past the tone or harsh words. I begin my reply with an apology: an expression of understanding for their situation, and an offer to make it better for them. They are my customers, and I want them to be happy. I want them to trust me and I need to trust them, too. Just a small gesture to build goodwill that makes my customers happy while hopefully ensuring future business.

 

The fourth and final question of the Four-Way Test is “Will it be beneficial to all concerned?” To me this question and the second question are related. The only difference to me is whether what I say or do will help someone versus the second question where I often ask myself if I will hurt someone.

 

We must, as Rotarians, be visible examples of ethical conduct.  And we are fortunate to have the Four-Way Test as our guide.

 

“Continuous improvement is better than delayed perfection”- Mark Twain.

 

See you soon,

 

President Susy