Like your students, managers may have a lot to learn!
You’re in the business of teaching.
Of spreading knowledge and enlightening the world one student at a time.
It’s a noble profession.
So why does it feel like you spend all your time stressing about retention, technology, prices, and politics?
There are a lot of challenges that education business owners and managers face.
This article will look at some of the most common and difficult ones you should be prepared for, and give you ideas for how to minimise or overcome them.
Keeping up with the latest technology
The trickiest days may well be behind us. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and the ensuing shutdown of life as we know it forced the hand of most educational establishments. Lessons were rapidly moved online as students and teachers alike isolated themselves.
It was a steep learning curve for many. But it forced the adoption of tools like Zoom on a wider scale than before. That has opened up many more possibilities for remote learning that have paved the way for a host of new businesses. There is more flexibility than ever before.
That doesn’t mean you won’t have to learn any new tools in the future though. We just may not see such hurried and forced adoption again for a while. Still, technology continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, and the best-positioned will be those who keep their finger on the pulse.
The rise of AI is certainly a development to keep an eye on. Students are using it for their work more and more, and there may well be a shift from “what can you produce on your own” to “how can you leverage these tools effectively?”
Be wary of dismissing any new technology or social media that your students are using as fads. Reaching them through platforms they’re engaged with may well be the best way to keep them focused and on track.
Student recruitment
Whether you lead a primary school or run an evening mentoring group, there’s plenty of competition out there for people’s time, money, and attention. As mentioned above, it may be worth looking at the channels you are using for outreach.
Do the demographics of your learners match the users of the channels you’re advertising on? Or are you wasting money on Facebook ad expenditure that’s only being seen by 40-year-olds when you’re trying to find Gen Z students who are busy scrolling TikTok?
Find the right channels and then use the right messaging. Consider referral programs and testimonies as ways to build trust and brand awareness with qualified leads.
Staff management
Students aren’t the only people you need to worry about. Having the right staff under you, engaged in productive activities, is the cornerstone of your business. As your team grows, managing them becomes trickier. How many times do you need to cross something off that pen and paper rota or rework another complex Excel spreadsheet?
Intelligent scheduling solutions like Findmyshift can lighten your load. With intuitive drag and drop scheduling, it makes building classroom rotas a breeze. Plus, it’s free for small teams and a low monthly fee for larger operations.
Stressful working conditions
Education is vitally important, and that can make it a difficult industry to work in. Some learners will care deeply about their learning and results, which makes tensions run high. Others may be less engaged, and that brings its own set of challenges.
Avoiding burnout is a key responsibility. Learn to spot the signs of stress and take proactive steps to address it before it costs your good people. Teaching can be a highly rewarding career when it goes well, so keep those moments in mind and persevere!