Business trips can be good business opportunities. In some positions, such as sales reps, travel is part of the routine. At other times, these are occasional occasions that affect the professional’s habit.
Frequent, sporadic, business trips can be much more productive if care is taken. So if you’re on a scheduled trip, check out these tips that we’ve selected especially for you!
1. Plan your trip in advance
The planning is the key to the success of any trip, even leisure travel. It is important to have some information and directions before moving from a known environment to a stranger.
Therefore, research the place, especially if it is too far away or in another country. Understand a little of the local culture, see what commitments you have to keep and what your travels will be like.
Even if you don’t follow the plan to the letter, it’s best to have something previously known so as not to get into an unexpected situation.
2. Consider changing dates to save money
This is a very interesting tip, but often overlooked by business travelers. Prices for airfare and lodging vary by date or time. The most common practice is to search for flights closer to the appointment day and time and save on lodging.
However, the price difference in some cases compensates for the payment of more per diem and, with the remote work solutions available today, an extra day or two does not interfere with the job delivery.
3. List the indispensable things to take
Who never forgot to take something on a trip, right? The problem is that, on a business trip, this forgetfulness can have more serious consequences. Imagine if you will find a potential customer and forget the thumb drive with the presentation?
To avoid situations like this, it is essential to make a checklist while planning the trip. In it, you should put all the things that, if missing, can hurt your work. Before leaving home, go over the list one last time to make sure nothing important is left behind.
4. Charge the phone and laptop battery the night before
We live in a totally connected age. We rely on our devices to perform most of the day’s tasks and cannot be without access to them just when we are outside our usual environment. Anything that can be done to avoid this problem is highly recommended.
Leave your phone and notebook with full batteries since the night before the trip. Keep chargers in accessible compartments if the battery does not last long enough. On longer trips, the use of a portable charger helps to overcome lack of access to outlets until things are stabilized.
5. Make sure you have all the access you need.
Today, cloud storage makes life easier for many people and businesses. Data is stored in much safer environments, with controlled access made easy for everyone who has permission.
But there are still many companies that still do not act that way. In these cases, it is essential to perform access tests to restricted environments, such as VPN and portable modem.
If you are going to another office in the company, make sure it is open or you have a copy of the key. Remember to think about access to buildings and other enclosures that may require the presentation of some specific document beyond normal identification.
6. Consider location when choosing hosting
If your business trip will last more than a day, think carefully before choosing where to stay. With the mobility problems facing major cities around the world, it is essential to minimize the need for shifts between commitments to be met.
The best locations are near the airport or where you will spend most days. If you are going to be allocated to a customer, look for a place closer to that customer. If you are visiting multiple places, see which routes will be used and find a point that fits most with the least amount of travel.
For more punctual meetings, you can adopt the same tactic as before and take advantage of the presence of coworkings in the area to work the rest of the day.
7. Separate a part of the leisure trip
No matter how professional the purpose of the trip, you don’t have to be available 24 hours a day to the company. Take advantage of your free time to get to know the region better. Visit bars and restaurants, find sights that help to clear your mind and provide moments of relaxation and fun.
8. Include safety margins between tasks
When we are in our common environment, we have greater control over events. We know how much time we spend doing each task, where the office supplies are, what time a fresh coffee is made in the kitchen. Elements that have a major impact on routine planning.
On a trip, the chances of unforeseen events are higher. The flight may be delayed, traffic may be busier than you expected, you may have a job on the way, or you may be slow to gain internet access. If your planning does not have some “slack”, you can get complicated.
9. Complete the most urgent tasks before the trip
Still talking about unforeseen events, believe me: they happen! So one way to minimize its impacts is to leave nothing urgent to do while traveling. If you have any activity with a shorter lead time, finish it before boarding and avoid getting squeezed.
Leave for the trip only what you cannot complete before or tasks you will be able to do after you return.
10. Work in coworkings
We know that not every hotel has a working environment. Sometimes there is a countertop in the room, but the atmosphere is not very inviting.
The best alternative is to seek coworking in the area. Shared offices can be found in all state capitals, such as Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte, as well as prominent cities within the states.
The advantages of opting for coworking lies in the complete infrastructure combined with the motivating environment. From the decoration to the view of the windows, every detail is designed to make the place more pleasant and comfortable for users.