3 ways not to stress on a business trip
I’ve just come back from a great business trip! It was a 4 city 5 day marathon of super technical discussions with strangers in near freezing weather with 5 other colleagues, of whom 4 were certainly certifiable introverts. But I’m whole, the team’s healthy, and we all agree it’s one of the best we’ve had.
Here are 3 reasons why:
We prepared ahead
Before the meeting we were given admin packs full of useful tips about how to get from the airports to our hotels and the average costs for the ride, the best places to eat and how to get there, as well as information on tipping practices and social norms.
Our support people had researched the people we were visiting and prepared background notes on them. They’d also brainstormed the questions we needed to ask and sent them on ahead.
Upshot of all this was that we didn’t have to sweat the small stuff. We could focus on getting there, getting done without worrying too much about food and lodging.
We scheduled down time
Although we were chock-a-block with meetings, we’d also scheduled down time for the team as well as for ourselves. We’d schedule only one lunch or dinner for official business, leaving the other just for ourselves.
There was also room for “me-time”. For breakfast, we could be as anti-social as we liked, although we did usually look up and greet each other after our first cup of coffee. In the middle of the week there was a free night where some of us snuck out to wonton noodles in Chinatown and others took a solitary stroll in Hyde Park.
The “me-time” allowed us to process our own stuff, the group meals to discuss fascinating new insights, and the business lunches or dinners to get to know our new friends in a less formal setting; all of the above upping productivity while reducing pressure.
We celebrated our wins!
From the beginning, everyone had a positive attitude. We didn’t gripe about the crazy schedule, the bad flights nor the weather.
“How nice it’s so cool”… “Great weather for walking”… we said in Scandinavia.
“You can learn as much from what they don’t say as what they say” we said about a not so interesting meeting.
And on a day the schedule was so tight we had to eat at the airport, we serendipitously discovered a great restaurant! Who would have thought? An airport bistro with the tastiest fries, a great slow-cooked lamb shank and the crunchiest winter salad dressed with flavourful vitamin rich pine nuts and sesame and flax seeds. Yum, yum, yum.
And the best thing…
The way this trip was organized we came back getting to know each other better, foibles and all. We connected not just as colleagues but as people.
Just shows… despite Facebook, WordPress, Google+ etc, face to face people time does beat all.
Reader and Writer - Praying Woman - Gardener - Foodie 
I wholeheartedly agree with you Audrey, that in spite of all the new technologies to connect, face to face time is the best. I always tried to find time to go to a gym or a long walk to destress during meetings…..seemed to help focus my thoughts so I could summarize my insights from the meetings. And the international board I sat on always provided us with logistical info in advance too….made the travel so much easier. Glad your trip went well.
Yup Maretta. But having said all that, I’m glad I’m not doing biz travel full time anymore. One or two of these trips a year is about all I can take now. You take care. How’s the car by the way?
I love your three tips. If you can eat fairly healthy food when you’re traveling, it reduces the stress on your body. Sounds like you found some good eating on your trip! And you had really great administrative support, that’s key.
Yes Kath, we’re really lucky we have super committed the support people throughout our organization.
Healthy eating is SOOO important. I’m afraid what I got on the trip was “good” eating, mostly quite rich and flavourful. But, I made sure I had a healthy breakfast. And, balanced off the large lunch or dinner with a very small other meal.
Well said. Though I seldom do a group biz trip, nor do I prepare ahead like that…
Group biz are really good for general fact-finding and networking. There’s really no business involved. But the networks can result in useful referrals.
Audrey I believe you were probably more focused and productive because of the way you managed your trip and some of the best ideas are made while you are having fun eating a nice meal and getting to know your workmates in a relaxed environment.
Absolutely agree.