Dos and Don’ts of Business Travel

Your bags are packed, you are ready to hit the road on a new, glamorous, all-expense paid adventure. You even bought a new digital camera to gather all your visual episodes. Now the reality: This is for work. Yep, the serious wake up call sets in when you are traveling with colleagues on a mission to impress the boss and get the job done. It’s not that you have to forget the fun, but there are some rules to the game away from the office.

Do:

1. Focus on work: It’s easy to get distracted in a new setting. Before the trip, set a plan of action with your coworkers on what to accomplish. Plan B is also the name of the game. Traveling never goes as expected, so the more you know, the easier it is to transition smoothly through any situation. You’ll come out of it shining like a star and then the best part – you’ll have some time to celebrate.

2. Be prepared: This goes along with focusing at work. Keep your list of work and personal goals. Research the area, navigation and transportation, entertainment and new restaurants. Your colleagues will be impressed by your knowledge of the region.

3. Take time to get to know each other: Set some time to talk to your coworkers. Find out about family, career, travel, etc. Listen to their habits. It will tell you a lot about how they work and can make you a better team player.

4. Take care of yourself: Get rest, drink a lot of water and keep some personal time. Don’t forget to pack medicines in case you get stressed or find yourself nursing a headache. This will help you stay on top of your game.

5. Keep communication light: Be professional at all times. Stirring up gossip and talking about personal issues can only come back to bite you later. On a trip, it’s easy to let your guard down. Develop friendships on a deeper level some other time.

6. Find a new adventure to experience: Eat at a new restaurant, try food you’ve never eaten, take in the culture with your coworkers.

Don’t:

1. Forget why you are there: When you are away from home, it may feel like an opportunity to break loose and be wild. But you wouldn't table dance on the boss' desk, so don't table dance on a business trip. If you forget your work, it’s a guarantee your colleagues will talk and you don’t want that getting back to your boss.

2. Gossip or give into internal rumblings: Sometimes it will feel like your colleagues are your best friends that you’ve trusted for years. Be aware. You never know.

3. Get too personal: Talking about your intimate love life or other toxic subjects are definite hot buttons. Even on the other end of the spectrum, you don’t have to listen to theirs.

4. Over do it at the bar: Go out and have a drink, but know your limit. You don’t want pictures traveling around with you on top of the bar one night and asleep under the meeting table the next day. Take it easy.