Foundational Notebook No. 6 — The Four Questions Criterion

THE FOUR QUESTIONS CRITERION OF ALIGNMENT

A compass to guide our decisions

The Alignment Principle invites everyone to remain faithful to their quest or their reason for being. The Four Questions Criterion helps us discern the right direction before acting.

The essentials in one minute

The Alignment Four Questions Criterion helps everyone take a step back before any important decision. It checks faithfulness to our quest, the rightness of our choices, their openness to the world and their contribution to the growth of individuals and of Humanity.

An inspiration from Rotary
Black and white portrait of Herbert J. Taylor, founder of Rotary's Four-Way Test

Herbert J. Taylor (1891-1971)

In 1932, Herbert J. Taylor, the head of a struggling company, wrote four simple questions to guide decisions and restore trust. The Rotary Council on Legislation simplified the wording:

Rotary’s Four-Way Test:

  1. Is it the truth?
  2. Is it fair?
  3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
  4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

For several generations, these four questions have guided the reflections and decisions of millions of Rotarians around the world.

OSE’s inspiration

OSE adapted this test to its own world and to the Alignment Principle, which is one of its foundations. Thus were born the Four Questions of Alignment.

The 4 Questions of Alignment

1

Is this decision faithful to my quest or to our purpose?

4

Does this decision contribute to the growth of individuals and of Humanity?

A decision
a choice
2

Does this decision faithfully express what my deep current — or our purpose — recognizes as true and just?

3

Does this decision foster the encounter between the intimate and the universal?

A compass rather than a rulebook

The Alignment Four Questions Criterion is neither a moral code nor a set of rules. It does not claim to automatically provide the right answer to every situation.

It is a compass. A tool for reflection. A support for discernment.

It helps everyone take a step back, clarify their intentions and better perceive the consequences of their choices.

A shared standard

In OSE, this criterion is offered to all those who take part in the OSE adventure:

Youth
Families
Clubs
Leaders
Sponsors
Partners
Founders

No one is exempt from this work of discernment. Because alignment is not only about what we do. It is also about how we choose to do it.

An invitation

  • ✓An invitation to reflect before acting.
  • ✓An invitation to remain faithful to what calls us to become more fully ourselves.
  • ✓An invitation to connect our daily choices to our quest, our reason for being and our contribution to Humanity.

It is in this spirit that they were integrated into OSE’s foundations.

“Discernment is not a brake on action. It is its light.”

Our mission

To train ambassadors of Olympism.

Our ultimate goal

To help young people succeed in life.

Our vision

Meeting others to better discover oneself, and building a more humane world.