Dr. Aftab Imam is a true Rotarian simply put. He embodies the 4 way test. He is the 4 way test in action. An all-rounder in life: a keen sportsman and avid reader of books with a passion for community service he is available for family and friends twenty four hours of the day. In his words: “I am very fortunate to have had parents like my mother and father. The values and principles I learned from them have influenced my decisions in life. Love for animals, that real happiness comes from helping others, the virtue of honesty and high thinking, love of reading, the value of hard work and being content I got from them. It is because of the way father a doctorate in Mathematics introduced me to Mathematics that I enjoy Mathematics to this day. I grew up observing mother supporting destitute families. Rotary’s 4 way test I learnt from my parents and grant parents.”

A Rotaractor turned Rotarian he has been an extremely active Rotaractor of the Rotaract Club of Hyderabad, Sindh.

A graduate of the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi, Pakistan and University of Pennsylvania, USA he loves to teach. He has been teaching Leadership and motivation, Entrepreneurial Leadership, Managing people in the Organization, High Performance
Leadership, Corporate Finance, Horse-back riding and Rotary’s Club Leadership Plan.

A keen sportsman he has played most sports including football, Polo, Cricket and hockey to name a few.

In recent year his passion is to spot leadership potential among the youth (Rotaractor and Rotarians included) and groom a crop of new leadership by providing leadership experience through participation in various fellowship, service, training projects and programs. He is inspiring others to find their voice which is the voice of the human spirit full of hope and unbounded potential to serve the common good.

He is fortunate to have a loving and caring wife, Fouzia and three endearing sons Nuvair, Nusair and Saad.

Grow Rotary through a positive feedback mechanism of: Do more to Grow more and Grow more to Do more. To me is the theme of Rotary District 3271 forever. Always more and always better is our motto in service, profession and personal life under the Rotarians’ DNA of the 4 way test. Excellence, highest form of integrity and leadership are the hallmark of true Rotarians.

It is upon us to focus on the ROB (Return on brain) rather than ROI(Return on investment). We are at the cusp of the social age. Leverage the social media. Leadership is about inviting people to come to work with their brains. Leaders create an environment in which people love to work. Behaviors are like plants. Which ones are you watering and which ones are you stamping out. Value and appreciate people. Focus on your behavior: What you(I) will start doing? (e.g information is exchanged freely), you(l) stop doing? (e.g micro-manage), continue doing?(rewarding good work).

What is the greatest threat to organizations? Not using talent and status quo. We ought to be ware. Most organizations are suffering from the boiled egg syndrome: they are boiled frogs who cannot tell that the temperature has changed. Consider your behavior and how your clubs are run. Decide what you want to change and what the desired outcome is. Experiment with your behavior. Behavior is the function of the person and the situation: Work to change the environment to a high performance environment. You affect the environment much more than you think you do. Keep trying tricks to keep you honest. Turn off your default settings and focus on your strength. Fixing your weakness is damage control not development. Damage control can prevent failure but it will not elevate you to excellence. Capitalize on strengths not weakness. Generate your own feedback and process that data from your own experience. Change behavior. Do things differently in small steps. Ask questions. Questions are more useful than answers. Questions are tools-they educate you.

Break the monopoly over writing, processing, getting and implementing Global Grants. Learn. Do it yourself.

Know what DEI (Diversity, Equity and Diversity) we are to achieve in Rotary clubs mean. Despite the renewed energy around DEI, there remains a noticeable lack of clarity around each of these terms. Diversity is about perspective, representation, tough conversation, and supporting inclusion. Inclusion prompts answers about creating environments conducive to feedback, supporting diversity, and being open. Equity is fairness, sameness, and valuing diversity and inclusion.

Finally please understand and implement the Rotary recommended best practice based Club Leadership Plan in your clubs (see page 122 & 123) to take your clubs to the next level. Brainstorm engaging every Rotarian (no Rotarian left behind policy) in your planning and projects/activities through holding quarterly clubs assemblies. Have a long term plan. Draw up an annual plan dovetailing into the long term plan. Impart Rotary knowledge to members old and new. This will address the twin questions especially for new and prospective Rotarians : what’s in it for me ? and the Why ?

Dear leaders now is your time. It’s time to deliver. To Grow Rotary. Gird your loin and hitch your wagon to the stars. Time and tide wait for no man or woman. Whatever is to be done is now. Allah Almighty swt has bestowed upon you a great honour and His kind favour – the opportunity to serve (fellow beings) to change (their) lives. So show your worth by your work – your performance this year and the ensuing years of your life – making it well lived leaving behind a wonderful legacy for our progeny.

Lots of love and prayers