New Constitution of Ireland 1937.
"Lasting change blooms not always through revolution but by nurturing dissent and galvanising participation in gradual reforms framed as progress towards shared aspirations"
👏 Happy Friday!
On this day, December 29, 1937, a new constitution, established by a national referendum, changed the name of the Irish Free State to (Eire) Ireland. The historical significance of this event cannot be overstated. It represented the culmination of decades of struggle and sacrifice by Irish nationalists who had fought for their country’s right to determine its own destiny. The Irish Free State, which had been a part of the British Commonwealth since its establishment in 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty signed in 1921, was now officially known as Ireland. The Irish Free State came into existence during a turbulent era in Ireland's history, marked by the struggle for independence from British rule. The Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 granted limited self-governance to Ireland, establishing the Irish Free State as a dominion within the British Commonwealth. However, the treaty remained a contentious issue, as it fell short of the aspirations of many Irish nationalists who sought complete independence. It was not until 1937, with the passing of the new constitution, that Ireland made a decisive break from its colonial past and asserted its identity as a sovereign, independent state. The constitution, also known as Bunreacht na hÉireann, was drafted by a committee led by Éamon de Valera, who would go on to become the first President of Ireland. The new constitution laid the foundation for a modern democratic republic. It established a parliamentary system, with a president as the head of state and a prime minister as the head of government.
✅ Eamon De Valera was Ireland’s hated hero, a paradoxical figure whose leadership stirred both admiration and disdain. He told us, “I believe in the recognition of Ireland as a sovereign independent state.” His indomitable spirit, dedication to Irish independence, and unwavering commitment to his vision of an Ireland free from British influence left an indelible mark on the nation’s history. De Valera’s legacy prompts us to the complexities of change leadership, the choices that shape nations, and the transformative power of constitutional change. He persisted as a vocal minority voice, cultivating support through passionate arguments that Ireland’s right to self-determination should not be silenced by the violent oppression of dissent, but resolved through peaceful participation. Yet driving legal-constitutional change required galvanising widespread participation to demonstrate majority desire, provide mandate pressures, and force reform. By framing the referendum as an overdue platform to nurture citizens to voice dissatisfaction through ballots, not bullets, turnout and buy-in reached peak levels. Change moved from a political fringe cause to a dominant mainstream preference seemingly overnight after years of cultivation. Change Nurtures Dissent and Galvanises Participation.
“Lasting change blooms not always through revolution but by nurturing dissent and galvanising participation in gradual reforms framed as progress towards shared aspirations”
👉 A typical question asked by the organisation’s C-Suite and leadership team is, “How long will the change take before we start to see the benefits?” The project change plan and the benefits tracking plan, if accurate and up-to-date, should provide a very good indication. The next question is usually, “Is there anything else we could be doing to speed up adoption and benefit delivery?” If all the a2BCMF® steps are being adhered to, then the simple answer is, “Yes, by reducing or removing resistance to the change.” The best way of doing this is to work with the three groups (‘Advocates’, ‘Observers’ and ‘REBELS’) involved in the change with the support of the change agents to find the ‘Tipping Point’.
Have a fantastic weekend with the ones you love and care for, enjoy some fresh air, exercise, eat, drink and be happy.
Further Reading: Change Management Leadership - Leadership of Change Volume 4
Peter consults, speaks, and writes on the Leadership of Change®.
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Peter F Gallagher is a Change Management Global Thought Leader, Guru, Expert, International Speaker, Author and Leadership Alignment Coach.
Listed #1 by leadersHum Top 40 Change Management Gurus You Should Follow in 2022 (Mar 2022).
Ranked #1 Change Management Global Thought Leader: Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Change Management (2023-2022-2021-2020) by Thinkers360.
Ranked #1 Business Strategy Global Thought Leader: Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Business Strategy (2022) by Thinkers360.
Ranked #2 Leadership Global Thought Leader: Top 50 Global Thought Leaders and Influencers on Leadership (Aug 2020) by Thinkers360.
Business Book Ranking
Change Management Behaviour - Leadership of Change® Volume 6, listed among the 50 Books from Thinkers360 Thought Leaders to read in 2022.
Change Management Adoption - Leadership of Change® Volume 5, listed among year-to-date’s (Jul 2021) most popular books on business and technology from Thinkers360 member thought leaders.
Change Management Handbook - Leadership of Change® Volume 3, listed among the 50 Business and Technology Books from Thinkers360 Thought Leaders to read in 2021.
Change Management Pocket Guide - Leadership of Change® Volume 2, ranked within the top 50 Business and Technology Books (Jan 2020) from Thinkers360 Thought Leaders.