How To Make A Great Impression When Traveling With Your Boss
Of all employed women who travel, 47% do so for business, making this the fastest growing segment of corporate travel, according to a survey by Capita Travel. If you are an excellent employee, at some point, you will likely need to travel with your boss on a business trip. The experience of your trip and how you represent the company, might vary depending on the nature of your travel among other factors. It is important to remember that business comes first and all your moves should reflect that so that you make a fantastic impression.
Planning for the trip
Ensure that you are well prepared to avoid making mistakes during your stay. Set up a meeting to ask questions that will give you a clearer picture of the travel ahead. While at it, ask how your boss envisions each day and what she would like to see accomplished. If there are any items that you need to send in advance, ship them while you still have time and confirm their arrival. Also, make sure that you have detailed logistical information, including the address of your hotel, schedule, and car reservation. More importantly, if you are traveling by road, conduct a thorough inspection to ensure that you will be driving a reliable vehicle. o be able to handle all these tasks smoothly, ask all that is required of you before you pack so that you prepare accordingly.
Communicating with your boss
Since you do not know whether your manager will want to talk for the entire journey or travel silently, you need to have a few topics at the back of your mind. Ensure that you know their personality and interests so that you can use them to find neutral discussion points to enjoy. Let your conversation remain professional, especially when you start talking about coworkers and customers. If at some point you need to be excused for a night, knowing how to convey the message is essential. For example, you could insinuate your intention by framing it as an offer for assistance. Is there anything you need from me after 7 tonight? If there is none, explain your plans to see if there’s a problem with you being off the clock.
When traveling with your boss, the goal is to appear highly competent and professional. Remember that you were selected from a list of coworkers because management trusted you. As such, you should do your best to act the part without giving room for mistakes. Making inquiries before traveling, planning accordingly and staying alert will go a long way towards making a good impression. In case of any problems, call the office back home rather than telling your boss that the credit card did not work.