Tips for maximising business travel from the Global Consultant
Ric, I spend an inordinate amount of my time on business travel. And I have a sense of it being a waste much of the time. How can I make it feel more worthwhile and efficacious?
A: Travel is an important part of our roles in business; and time is of a premium also. At times, it can seem quite the juxtaposition. Psychologically empower yourself to feel positive about your travel by considering it a chance to break free of the normal routine.
- Work on the road by using a laptop with broadband internet access. Do not spare the horses! Get the most powerful you can of everything to make it serve you and your needs.
- Manage your flights to make the best use of your time. Take an active role in your flight bookings; this way you may see opportunities to make the stops on your trip more effective and conducive to increased productivity and maximising efficiency.
- Select hotels that have gymnasiums, pools and alike to allow you to exercise and rejuvenate. Skip room service, and go out for dinner, or better still see a movie or go to the theatre.
- Go for an early morning walk, rather than fussing around in the hotel room.
- Have a completely separate set of everything for your travel; a separate toiletry kit, a separate set of clothes, shoes, belts, etc and keep them in your travel case rather than packing and unpacking all the time. This saves time and effort and reduces the stress of preparing for a trip.
- Plan and organise your trips; make it enjoyable rather than a chore. Know well in advance what you will be doing and when; then schedule some “you” time into the trip as well. Work, relax, exercise, and have fun. These components will make you feel enormously more positive about the travel that is an integral part of our professional lives.
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