being a Director in the modern world

How to be a director in the modern world –  “I’d like to ask all of us to spare a moment for ‘the boss’, the employer, the owner, the director and the person who fought to keep the lights on for so many over the last year. “

By Guy Walker

I am immensely proud to be a Company Director in this new, modern world. Many people never take the plunge, some do turn hobbies into dreams, others just make do by enjoying the benefits of owning a company, without the risk of growth or employees. I’ve not enjoyed the last 12 months, it’s been a rollercoaster not entirely unfamiliar to me, but not one that I would normally endure as part of my role.

This time has been different – it’s not treated us fairly. We have had no way to exit this current ride which didn’t have an end in sight for many months. As it progressed things became clearer but updates still do not bring any sense of relief just yet.

I deal with people every day – I must admit this in itself creates that emotional rollercoaster effect, which makes it hard to stay on an even keel with my own emotions. It’s hard to care for others when you need to care for yourself, even harder when you have people’s lives, livelihoods and families to protect. 

Company Directors, we’ve been mostly left unsupported, without much government intervention. Sure, the furlough scheme I will be forever grateful for, it is currently protecting my staff and supply chain. Also, the grants my commercial landlord is very happy for, which have paid a portion of my empty office rent bill. Yet none of this helped me as a business owner to fund my fixed costs, pay my own salary (which I wasn’t able to furlough), or service any costs which we had prior to the pandemic.

We’ve had debt thrown at us left right and centre, I come out of this pandemic with a 10- year reminder of what I went through to keep my business alive, a painful reminder every month of what it cost me financially and physically. I am one of the few lucky people who haven’t had to battle a close personal loss whilst handling all this pressure, but this thought is unfathomable. I would like to thank Rishi for what he’s done, but plead for him to do a little more, just to help save those few who fell through the gaps. My heart goes out to anyone who had lost a life, a loved one, a friend or colleague whilst battling this. This blog is by no means a moan about the response, or the circumstance, just floating a perspective not often aired.

I would have loved someone to call me and ask how I was, asked me how they could have helped me, given me something to help calm my nerves. My staff have ploughed on as best they can. I would like to thank every single staff member who has helped their employer, even just by showing up and going that extra mile, we really do appreciate you. I am also extremely grateful to everyone who has worked with my businesses through this terrible time.

I guess I’d like to ask all of us to spare a moment for ‘the boss’, the employer, the owner, the director and the person who fought to keep the lights on for so many over the last year. So, would anyone like to setup a director’s mental health support group? The last article I could find discussing this is 2016, but I wouldn’t know where to start, but It’s never been more relevant than right now.

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