These brands carry a representation that determines whether we buy from them or not, whether we connect with them or not, and whether we choose to do business with them or not. We already know the importance of having a brand and having a great reputation in terms of business. So, if you ask me what can we do to help school leavers, I would say help them to think like a brand.
If students engage with big brands on a day-to-day basis with their time, energy and even money, it is important that they also see themselves as a brand. The way they engage with these big brands is the same way employers, teachers and colleagues would want to engage with them; if they do not carry the right “brand” that has the right reputation, they might miss out on opportunities.
Preparing Britain’s youth for the real world is a big task, so teaching them to recognise that is essential. There are four simple stages to helping school leavers develop their find their own student brand:
1. Discover
This will see them digging into their personality to find some of the positives attributes they’ve developed. Making a note of simple things they’ve done, such as learning how to swim or playing an instrument.
2. Design
The second stage is to begin mapping out what the brand is going to look like. This will involve them documenting how they would like to be seen, and offers a very simple task of writing what they would like a teacher to say about them at graduation. This is a very powerful process, as it forces learners to see how they want to be seen, as well as what needs to be done to close the gap between where they are and where they would like to get to, image-wise.
3. Build
The third stage is to build. This involves them looking at various habits that could affect their reputation, such as lateness and lack of organisation. By building their day-to-day habits, they’re planning for a better brand. A simple task will be to build an ideal morning, creating habits that would help them become that first-class brand that they want. Things like an ideal wake-up time, music they listen to, what they eat, the type of workout they do. All of these activities help to build the right mindset.
4. Present
Here they learn how to effectively communicate their brand publicly. Skills such as handshakes and eye contact are essential. Most school leavers dread speaking to new people in a public setting. We eradicate that fear by helping them embrace their true self. If we’re going to help our youth prepare for the real world, we need to help them to think like a brand.
We’re in a very competitive world, and giving our school leavers the competitive advantage is essential. We have a responsibility to set them up for a future they will be proud of. They are AMAZING, and they deserve the best. Thank you for the work you do for the next generation - your dedication is appreciated.
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