August marks my first year as Chief Executive with Go Beyond and I’ve been doing some reflection.
For a team 
of fewer than 30 people, we have achieved a lot: 629 children have had a break in that 12 months. They’ve come from all of the counties of the South West, the Midlands, London, Manchester, Sheffield and elsewhere to spend time with us in either Cornwall or the Peak District.
We had a HUGE amount to do to make that happen – nobody had stayed overnight through the pandemic so we had to wake everything back up. From laundry to maintenance, restocking the cupboards and checking all the regulations, we had a mountain to climb. And, like everyone else, we had to ‘un-furlough’ and hire new staff.
Thank goodness for an amazing team – the very small number who were there a year ago and the many new faces that have joined since. it hasn’t always been easy but it has been inspiring. Every story I’ve heard from a child, and every child I’ve been lucky enough to meet has made it all worthwhile.
It’s not always easy being the CEO. There’s a weight of responsibility, especially when caring for children. It can be lonely at the top, and I’m lucky I have friends I can reach out to – it’s important to keep that external perspective.
Along the way this year, I completed my ILM 7 in Executive Coaching. While the essay writing was a chore, there was some helpful content. I’d always prefer to coach people to grow and it’s reassuring to have learned some new approaches.
I’ve had a million new ideas in 12 months (of course) but I’ve coached myself to be patient and build consensus. There’s no point charging ahead and leaving people behind. It’ll only work if everyone is with you – that’s how we’ve succeeded this year and it’s how we will thrive in the future. I’ll keep dreaming bigger and better but what we have today is enough to be proud of.
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