Recently while listening to talk back radio in NZ, a commentator used the term ‘it would not pass the commonsense test’. This got us thinking at Daymark of the various tests that are around when it comes to assessing the veracity of a response to a potentially reputation damaging event.
Here are some tests you may wish to use when assessing your next reputation challenge.
Fail the test and it is likely your reputation could be at risk.
The ‘pub’ test: a commonly cited test even though we are not sure we all understand how to apply it given the diversity across our population. A useful test to use when you wish to assess your issue against what the average person in the street (or pub) thinks, or a consensus view (of pub patrons).
– The ‘front page of the AFR’ test: one for the corporate sector to use to pose the question – if this saw the light of day how would we feel about that level of transparency?
– The ‘dinner party’ test: a test of how well your response would sit with your peers when you are face to face with them.
– The ‘what would our parents – or grandparents – think’ test: possibly the hardest test to pass – the moral standards of a prior generation or two.
– The ‘what if it happened to me’ test: the test when you put yourself in the shoes of those that have been or are potentially impacted.
– The ‘fair and reasonable’ test: this is a test we at Daymark use to cover all other tests! It gets our clients thinking about what is best in the situation for all concerned.
There are many more of course. And fun aside, each of these has an important effect which is to shift your frame of reference in your assessment of how you have responded or plan to respond to a matter of public interest.
Whatever test you use, they are best used behind the scenes as you navigate the many day-to-day issues and business decisions in your organisation. Such decisions only occasionally get raised in the public arena, but what if they did?
Now is the perfect time to schedule a call and discuss your issues management strategy for 2025.