Practical Guidance
For the last ten years, I have made the study of ethics a personal and professional passion of mine. I studied the philosophy of ethics from the great minds of the last several thousand years and those more modern. In my research, I have seen several common themes. While I do not intend to bore you with philosophical theory of ethics in this article, I do want to provide you with some practical guidance for helping you make the best decisions you can in your personal and professional lives. I have found two different methods the most practical and useful in almost all situations. They are the Four-Way Test from Rotary International, and five common values espoused by the Institute for Global Ethics.
The Four-Way Test
In the early 1930s Herbert J. Taylor set out to save the Club Aluminum Products distribution company from bankruptcy. His recovery plan started with changing the ethical climate of the company. Taylor saw his first job was to set policies for the company that would reflect a high ethical standard. He felt they needed a simple, easily remembered guide to right conduct - a sort of ethical yardstick - which everyone in the company could memorize and apply to what they thought, said and did. Unknowingly Taylor was starting a practice of developing a code of conduct for a business, which has now become a common practice at most organizations.
In 1932, Taylor created The Four-Way Test, a code of ethics for Club Aluminum Products that was also adopted by Rotary International eleven years later as its code of ethics. The four-way 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?
As a result of following the principles in the Four-Way Test, Club Aluminum Products avoided bankruptcy and returned to profitability. The Four-Way Test is a practical, easy to use guideline, used by millions of Rotarians worldwide guiding them in their daily decision making and is a simple method everyone can use.
Institute for Global Ethics
The Institute for Global Ethics has done research all over the world and discovered five basic values, all human beings tend to agree with that are a good basis for helping us make decisions. These are tried and true values regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, age or gender. They have been tested for decades with thousands of people, all over the world. When faced with a dilemma, ask yourself:
What's the most:
- honest,
- responsible,
- respectful,
- fair and
- compassionate choice?
The choice that satisfies most of those values is usually your best choice.
Conclusion
So there you have it. Two practical ways for each of us to consider when faced with a decision. Take your pick, or use a combination of both. At this time of reflection at the start of a new year when most of us are making resolutions to lose weight, exercise more, and quit smoking, let us also resolve to live better lives. Lives where we are more satisfied and proud of the results of our decisions.
Jason Mefford is the President of Mefford Associates, a boutique training and advisory firm focusing on ethics, corporate governance and internal audit.
Jason Mefford is a sought after adviser and speaker on ethics, corporate governance, GRC, and internal audit topics. He is currently the President of Mefford Associates, a professional training, coaching and boutique advisory firm.
Mefford has been the chief audit executive at two different multi-billion dollar manufacturing companies. Prior to that he was a manager at both Arthur Andersen and KPMG, performing internal and external audits and advisory services for clients in various industries.
Mefford is active in the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) where he has served in various volunteer leadership positions at the local and international level. He serves on the Leadership Council for the Open Compliance and Ethics Group (OCEG) a non-profit think tank that uniquely helps organizations drive "Principled Performance" by enhancing corporate culture and integrating governance, risk management, and compliance processes.
For the last ten years, I have made the study of ethics a personal and professional passion of mine. I studied the philosophy of ethics from the great minds of the last several thousand years and those more modern. In my research, I have seen several common themes. While I do not intend to bore you with philosophical theory of ethics in this article, I do want to provide you with some practical guidance for helping you make the best decisions you can in your personal and professional lives. I have found two different methods the most practical and useful in almost all situations. They are the Four-Way Test from Rotary International, and five common values espoused by the Institute for Global Ethics.
The Four-Way Test
In the early 1930s Herbert J. Taylor set out to save the Club Aluminum Products distribution company from bankruptcy. His recovery plan started with changing the ethical climate of the company. Taylor saw his first job was to set policies for the company that would reflect a high ethical standard. He felt they needed a simple, easily remembered guide to right conduct - a sort of ethical yardstick - which everyone in the company could memorize and apply to what they thought, said and did. Unknowingly Taylor was starting a practice of developing a code of conduct for a business, which has now become a common practice at most organizations.
In 1932, Taylor created The Four-Way Test, a code of ethics for Club Aluminum Products that was also adopted by Rotary International eleven years later as its code of ethics. The four-way 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?
As a result of following the principles in the Four-Way Test, Club Aluminum Products avoided bankruptcy and returned to profitability. The Four-Way Test is a practical, easy to use guideline, used by millions of Rotarians worldwide guiding them in their daily decision making and is a simple method everyone can use.
Institute for Global Ethics
The Institute for Global Ethics has done research all over the world and discovered five basic values, all human beings tend to agree with that are a good basis for helping us make decisions. These are tried and true values regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, age or gender. They have been tested for decades with thousands of people, all over the world. When faced with a dilemma, ask yourself:
What's the most:
- honest,
- responsible,
- respectful,
- fair and
- compassionate choice?
The choice that satisfies most of those values is usually your best choice.
Conclusion
So there you have it. Two practical ways for each of us to consider when faced with a decision. Take your pick, or use a combination of both. At this time of reflection at the start of a new year when most of us are making resolutions to lose weight, exercise more, and quit smoking, let us also resolve to live better lives. Lives where we are more satisfied and proud of the results of our decisions.
Jason Mefford is the President of Mefford Associates, a boutique training and advisory firm focusing on ethics, corporate governance and internal audit.
Jason Mefford is a sought after adviser and speaker on ethics, corporate governance, GRC, and internal audit topics. He is currently the President of Mefford Associates, a professional training, coaching and boutique advisory firm.
Mefford has been the chief audit executive at two different multi-billion dollar manufacturing companies. Prior to that he was a manager at both Arthur Andersen and KPMG, performing internal and external audits and advisory services for clients in various industries.
Mefford is active in the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) where he has served in various volunteer leadership positions at the local and international level. He serves on the Leadership Council for the Open Compliance and Ethics Group (OCEG) a non-profit think tank that uniquely helps organizations drive "Principled Performance" by enhancing corporate culture and integrating governance, risk management, and compliance processes.
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