Page 21 - Spring Newsletter 2024

Leading Irelands Future Together

By Ms E O’Sullivan

The vision of the LIFT process is to create better leaders right across all of our

society in Ireland.
Leadership is not about a position or a title. Each of us is a potential leader -
whether that is within our family, school, sports team or in business. Leadership is
an activity and it must be practiced.

The development of personal leadership qualities and abilities within each individual
is crucial to developing a generation of stronger and better leaders. Raising the
levels of leadership benefits all of Ireland.

The Roundtable process involves 4 or 5 participants meeting together for approx 30
- 45 minutes each week for 8 weeks to reflect on a particular LIFT theme. These
themes were identified through national survey processes. Representatives of the
Irish population were asked to list the leadership attributes that they felt most
needed development in our country.

Our 5th year mentors have taken part in this process and find it extremely
worthwhile and simple to apply. One student acts as facilitator in the Roundtable
session - they explain the LIFT process and explain which theme will be studied that
week. Each person around the table is asked to read some of the material provided
on the theme in question and to pick one thing in the material that they found
interesting. The facilitator simply thanks the participant when they have contributed
and moves on to the next person. Students are then asked to rate themselves on
how they have ‘lived’ the theme over the past few days. They are asked to write
down how their lives would be better if they improved their score and finally to
commit to one small, simple thing that they can and will do in the next few days in
order to improve that score.

The basic LIFT themes are :
 Listening
 Positive Attitude
 Respect
 Resilience
 Determination
 Empathy and Understanding
 Innovation and Adaptability
 Honesty and Integrity

The additional themes of Trust, Embracing Difference, Cyber Positivity and
Sustainability can also be completed if the group wishes.

We hope to extend the process across the student body at De La Salle College,
inspiring our future leaders in their chosen fields. The benefits are immense and
impact on all of us.

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