SOCIAL IMPACT
We believe that businesses can play a vital role as part of their corporate social responsibility in supporting the development of young people. This might be within the local community or on a regional or even national basis with small local enterprises to larger household names contributing.
It’s not just the young people who benefit from greater self-awareness and developing the skills they need in life. Businesses and the economy also reap the rewards. Helping to create a workforce with resilience, a growth mindset, the tools to ensure their wellbeing and a host of other attributes that guarantee they make a positive impact.
“As workers interact with ever-smarter machines, the demand for soft skills is beginning to surge.”
The pace of change, particularly in the workplace, is accelerating and we all see statistics such as 60% of jobs our children will be doing in the future don’t exist today. While that percentage might be up for debate, what we can be sure of is the future is unknown and far more than say a couple of generations ago.
Technology is the main driver of this need to adapt, with instant communication, the rise of AI and computers that can outperform humans in so many areas. Not all areas though, at least not yet, because we still need those quintessentially human skills such as empathy, creativity and curiosity.
Most people now acknowledge that it is not exam results that ultimately make you employable, lovable and satisfied but the skills and characteristics that you possess.
Our children need to know themselves, be equipped with skills that will serve them well regardless of career choices and have a sense of direction and optimism. We don’t know what the future holds for them but we can make sure they are ready.
We can all engage with and support our children without pretending we have all the answers. We don’t know for sure what the future will hold and we can be honest about that. However, that doesn’t mean that planning and preparation aren’t still vital.
We can make sure they have knowledge about where their natural energies lie, what their strengths are and how they can make a positive impact on their world. Anyone who works using their instinctive proclivities will always tend to be happier and more productive.
We can raise awareness of and provide opportunities to develop transferable skills. These are skills and characteristics that are applicable across industries and roles but also extend into our personal lives. Although there are many, examples include self-awareness, teamwork, leadership, planning, critical and creative thinking, communication skills, social skills and adopting a growth mindset.
“Unfortunately, some people believe that soft skills aren’t that important. However, almost every employer I’ve ever talked to about this disagrees. In a world where job roles are changing rapidly, soft skills will be one of the few constants.”
“85% of one’s success in the workplace is attributed to soft skills and only 15% to technical skills.”
Our Young People Index® reports provide a personalised profile that identifies where an individual can make the greatest impact by making the most of their innate energy. This can be incredibly powerful in helping us to understand ourselves and can provide a sense of direction.
Everyone who takes the Young People Index® gains valuable insights about who they are. They will have a bespoke profile with some 100,000 different permutations that show how they make an impact based on the five proclivities of Game Changer, Strategist, Implementor, Polisher and PlayMaker.
Interactive sessions offer students the chance to focus on some key areas of development as part of maximising their potential. We can never stand still though and new topics continue to be introduced, such as the emergence of AI but core themes include self-awareness, effective collaboration and teamwork, evolving as a young leader, plus the importance of planning for the future with a sense of purpose and optimism.
If you would like to investigate ways we can work together, we would love to have a chat to discuss this further. Of course, financial sponsorship is a direct route to supporting young people in areas of low social mobility. However, it’s not the only route available with options such as mentoring, work experience and investing in our services for your business.
