“That thing happened like, six years ago, and nothing like it has happened since!” I was at a party and the speaker, a teacher at a nearby school, had been asked about an incident that had taken over the school’s reputation (not in a good way) and developed a life of its own.
The teacher went on to tell those of us in the group about all the great things happening at the school. She also shared how “the incident” had resulted in some amazing community building as the school responded.
I asked how the school had communicated the amazing things happening and whether they had addressed the positive outcomes of the negative situation. The answer was essentially, “We don't really talk about ourselves much, and we try to ignore ‘the incident’ and hope it fades away.”
Nature Abhors a Vacuum
Narratives are powerful things that cement themselves in our minds. They shape how we see, hear, and respond. Stories help us understand and place people, actions, and ideas in context.
Because stories are so powerful in creating meaning and understanding, we tend to look for them even if they aren’t there, which can lead to false narratives becoming the only narrative. If you are not taking control of that narrative someone else will.
I recently spoke with a school nutrition director who told me that her mother asked if it was true that schools received food that grocery stores couldn’t sell anymore. Her own mother!
Of course, she set her mom straight, but in exploring this bizarre rumor it came out that this idea had been floating in the ether for decades, and nothing had been done to combat it.
Your Ordinary May Be Someone Else’s Extraordinary
In my experience, when students, family members, and other school staff hear about the actual truth of school nutrition, they are blown away - in a great way.
“I had no idea you had salad bars at school!”
“When did you start serving local food?”
“Wait, the same food I can get at Trader Joe’s and Sprouts is what our kids are getting?”
But because school nutrition professionals see these things every day, we can become numb to the amazing work being done. It’s that story that needs to be told again and again and again.
If you aren’t telling your story, someone else will. It’s up to you to take control of your story and change the narrative about school food.
Confidence & Positivity Beat Defensiveness & Resignation
Taking control involves confidence in what you’re doing, and framing it in a positive manner. It’s one thing to feel like you’re on the defensive. It’s another to respond defensively and make that the dominant tone about school food.
When you are a positive and inspired advocate for the fantastic work of your team and why it is so important for your students and families, that attitude takes over.
“I’m glad you shared your thoughts - it’s obvious you care about the food we serve our kids. Can I tell you a few things that may surprise you?” When someone realizes what you’re doing (see “I had no idea…” above), you have a chance to invite that person to help share your story.
“One of our biggest challenges is people defaulting to their assumptions. It would be amazing to have you share what you’re learning with your peers and help us shift the story.”
Need Help Taking Control of Your Story?
Sometimes an objective third party can help you to clarify how to tell your story. If you’re looking for help with taking control of your story, that’s why we exist. Knowing that you need to do something and taking tangible steps to move forward is another thing.
Let us help you take control of your story and make it an active, living, breathing thing that pulls people in and turns passive customers into active fans and advocates.
Schedule a consultation with us now and let’s see how we can put your ideas into action.
Take Control of Your Story
Put our 10+ years of school meal marketing to work for your program and build participation, engagement, and awareness for the amazing things you’re doing.