The critical link between poverty and poor productivity is founded in the erosion of personal values and lack of self-responsibility.
On October 10th, the Office of Budget Responsibility suggested that it was considering a “downward revision to prospective productivity growth” in its next economic forecast. It would not be the first time that such a revision had taken place. Productivity has not been this stagnant since the end of the Napoleonic wars, 200 years ago, when economic activity was disrupted by an influx of men returning from fighting.
Poverty rates increased last year — 14 million people live in poverty. The state of the nation report blamed rising housing costs, increasing food and energy bills and cuts in benefits. Whilst that may be the more obvious case we believe the problem goes much deeper than that.
We believe there is a highly destructive and insidious core issue. The critical link between poor productivity and poverty – low self-esteem and an erosion of personal values over many decades, more specifically a lack personal responsibility. And this can go right to the top, behind almost every headline you can uncover the problem lies in someone not taking responsibility for themselves and possibly the role they are paid to undertake.
What is the Answer?
What is the answer you may ask? At the end of Key Stage 3, when children are between 11 and 14 years old, they start to look at their future and careers. This is a perfect opportunity for parents and teachers to work together for the benefit of the student. Although this is the intention, from our experience this whole process needs to be fully committed, supported and managed to maximise the students future potential.
If we could get parents and teachers to work together with a cohesive approach to empower and unleash the potential in their children, it would be a huge step forward. Empowered children are confident, emotionally resilient and take responsibility for themselves. They are also able to think for themselves and access higher order thinking skills and better prepared for the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Over time these empowered young people will have a massive impact on their community and in the workplace. What is the alternative? More of the same!
BTW, why is all the buzz around the next industrial revolution and Artificial Intelligence, when the majority of us can’t manage our own Emotional Intelligence today? Or is it another distraction to stop us taking our power back!
