Back to School, Back to Business: PR Lessons from the New Term
As pupils in Scotland return to school this month, many parents will have had a busy summer juggling business and family life.
In essence, starting school is about creating a foundational structure for growth and development - lessons that all businesses can draw parallels from. For example:
Generating Positive Initial Buzz: Schools often aim to create positive sentiments right from the start. This might involve showcasing new facilities, highlighting achievements from the previous year, or introducing new initiatives.
Businesses can learn to strategically announce positive news, updates, or achievements to create a favourable initial impression and garner positive media attention.
Managing Stakeholder Communications: Schools communicate with a wide range of stakeholders: students, parents, teachers, administrative staff, and the local community. The start of the year requires clear and consistent communication with each group.
Businesses can learn from this by developing tailored communication strategies for their stakeholders (customers, employees, investors, the public), ensuring everyone receives relevant information.
Building Trust and Credibility: By clearly outlining rules, safety procedures, and academic goals, schools aim to build trust with parents and students.
Businesses can enhance their PR by being transparent, demonstrating ethical practices, and consistently delivering on their promises to build trust and credibility with their audience.
Handling Potential Issues Proactively: Schools often anticipate potential issues at the start of the year, such as logistical challenges or student anxieties, and have plans in place to address them.
Businesses should also proactively identify potential PR crises and develop strategies to mitigate them.
Leveraging Community Relations: Schools often engage with the local community through events or partnerships which helps to build goodwill.
Businesses can learn the value of community involvement and corporate social responsibility in enhancing their public image. For example, sponsoring a local event or partnering with a charity can generate positive PR.
If you’re interested in one-to-one coaching to help you to undertake your own PR, or perhaps are a little rusty and need a few refresher classes on reputational management, please get in touch. And, if you have children starting school this year, I hope the new term goes well.
