For more than twenty years, I had the privilege of being a member of the Milwaukee Rotary Club. At each meeting, the organization’s four-way test was shared as a reminder of what the Club stood for.
The test asks the following questions:
Of the things we think, say or do…..
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Very simple and direct.
Rotary’s Four-Way Test was created in 1932 to help guide the professional and personal relationships of its members.
It remains relevant today and could be shortened to just one word: integrity.
As a leader, you need to demonstrate your integrity if you expect your employees to behave the same way.
A leader who cannot commit to the Four-Way Test will not be successful in building the trust of their employees, their stakeholders, or others who observe them.
You don’t have to be a Rotarian to buy-in.
How can you demonstrate your integrity?
- Be transparent in your dealings with others. Never lie.
- Be trustworthy and reliable.
- Be accountable for your mistakes.
- Allow those you supervise to speak openly. I’ve often said that I need to be told when one of my ideas doesn’t make sense.
- Maintain a focus on the mission of your organization.
- Make sure that the same values that guide you in your personal life are also present at in your work life.
If I were to survey your colleagues, would they say you have a high level of integrity?
Dave Edwards Media 