In the OECD’s Better Life Index (2015), Ireland ranks above the global average in housing, personal security, health status, education and skills, social connections, work-life balance, and environmental quality. Ireland has an average life expectancy slightly higher than the OECD average; is now reported as having the top ‘food security’ of all countries globally; has almost half the pollution level of the OECD average; has relatively low rates of crime; ranks significantly higher than the global average in all areas of the PISA education tests (and 5th in the world for reading literacy); and has an international brand recognition that is significantly beyond what might be expected for a country of its size.
All of this is great: So why is it that in Ireland, 59% of people believe that our systems are failing and that Ireland as a society is still ranked in the bottom 10% of countries in terms of its people’s trust in its core institutions? (Edelman Trust Barometer survey 2017)
Globally, two-thirds of surveyed countries are now “distrusters,” with under 50% trust, according to Edelman’s 2017 figures. Ireland is one of these countries. Of the 28 countries surveyed, among the ‘informed’ group of respondents, Ireland had the 2nd lowest level of trust, lower than countries including Russia and Colombia, and with only Poland lower.
Interestingly, other research has shown that trust in Ireland between individual people tends to be much higher than in most countries. Ireland has high levels of inter-personal trust, being rated 5th globally in a 2010 study. The conclusion is clearly that we are a generally trusting nation that has a real issue when it comes to trusting organisations and institutions.
Why might this be the case? Since 1990 Ireland has had public tribunals (and a small number of resulting criminal prosecutions) designed to investigate institutional or individual behaviours in relation to numerous sectors of life. We have also had multiple scandals in other sectors that reach the front pages of the newspapers but might not give rise to official tribunals.
Simultaneous with the above degrading of trust at an institutional level, our young people (who are the next generation of potential leaders in our society) face new pressures and issues of isolation from reality as a result of technology and social media.
WE NEED TO START A CONVERSATION ABOUT PERSONAL LEADERSHIP
Ireland should not be featuring towards the bottom of any international survey on the link between our institutions and our people. Similarly, our young people should not be growing up uncertain of how and when they ought to react to unethical or bullying behaviour, whether witnessed in person or online.
LIFT wants to start a conversation about personal leadership. When we talk about what leadership qualities we need, character is the piece that is largely missing: we hear constantly about the managerial skills required of leaders; and of the work ethic and commitment required and of course these are important. But these are not what leadership is: one is a function of leadership and the other is about personal energy levels – but neither are about leading.
Personal Leadership is about developing one’s character so that we act consistently and with integrity, so that others want to follow.
The quality of our society depends on the quality of our leaders. LIFT is a force to improve the quality of leadership in Ireland – from the kitchen table to the classroom; and from the clubhouse to the boardroom.
