Do You Have a Wicked Problem?
You may have a Wicked Problem if you are unsatisfied with your answers to any of the following questions:
- How do you engage today’s learner that is used to high interactivity and social collaboration?
- Your school is only as successful as your enrollment. How do you continue to attract and maintain high enrollment rates?
- Are you losing students to competitive, low-cost schools?
- Do you have outdated education tools? Do you have the resources and talent to create modern ones affordably?
- Does learning stop when your students walk out the door for the day? What if you could extend learning outside the classroom?
- Do you offer ongoing professional development options to keep former students connected and involved as alumni?
- How do you maintain academic excellence while not alienating students or appearing elitist?
- Do you lack the communication and marketing tools to reach existing and potential students in an increasingly virtual world?
- How do you remain unique while becoming a recognized authority in your area for higher education?
You Are Not Alone
You’d be surprised by the number of clients we work with who have the very same problems. Our industry is evolving. The changes in our industry and the evolving needs to remain competitive in an increasingly technological and social world have not missed Cosmetology and Esthetics schools. The needs of today’s learner are as varied as the learner’s themselves. All over the country, colleges and universities have evolved to provide more engaged learning experiences and have recognized opportunities for learning outside the classroom, offering virtual resources and course materials via the Internet. Beauty schools have been slow to respond to the innovations of other industries and realize that traditional styles of teaching aren’t enough to remain competitive.
From entrepreneurs just building their dream business, to multi-million-dollar established beauty and esthetics schools, everyone is finding it difficult to maintain momentum, keep alumni returning for education and maintaining full classrooms. Sometimes the root cause of these problems lies in one or more of the following:
- Increasing number of low cost or online beauty schools
- Difficulty attracting and maintaining a talented and driven teaching staff
- Education methods and resources remaining stagnant year to year instead of evolving to meet the growing needs and expectations of today’s students
- Needing help defining brand and corporate message and image to make students WANT to attend your school
- Needing to set one’s school apart to gain recognition and student interest
- No professional development program to keep alumni connected and additional revenues generating
- Lack of software or technology to offer online programs and courses to extend learning outside the classroom
- Lack of software or technology to create online courses for alumni for continued learning and additional revenue
- Relying on “Old School” style teaching methods – the teach and write method – in an age where we demand more action, engagement and customization of our experiences (learning and otherwise)
- Lack of personal insight into all that is possible in terms of support and options
- A Living Brand on life support
