From double-checking travel arrangements to going easy on the alcohol, these expert tips will guarantee you impress your boss on your business trip
It’s the moment we all dread. It’s worse than seeing the start-up you decided not to join being snapped up by Google – the dreaded trip abroad with the boss can bring up conflicting emotions.
This could be the moment to shine and be recognised for the star in the making you truly are, or it could be the embarrassing trip when the Duty Free did the talking that you’d rather forget.
Time for some top tips from those in the know...
Check arrangements yourself
This is the golden rule for all work travel. It doesn’t matter who booked the trip, if you’re on separate flights or arrive at a hotel that’s closed for renovation, it’s you who’s going to get both barrels of disapproval from the boss.
Check the room booking closely – mistakes leading to having to share twin beds with the boss is a lot more common than you may think. You have been warned.
Be in the know and be useful
How long is the train ride to the airport? Is it quicker or cheaper than a cab, or is the meeting best reached by road? If you have all this info at your fingertips, it can only impress, so put in a little research ahead of the trip.
Downloading a tourist app for the city you’re travelling to is another good idea. A roaming package, such as Vodafone Roaming, will ensure you can access saved information at the destination without your boss having to dig deep to fund the bill at the end of the month.
A really good tip is to have a spare mains adapter and a smartphone battery with a multi-connector lead. Great for you but extra brownie points if your boss needs to avoid going into low power mode.
Be a seasoned traveller
A top tip we keep hearing from female business travellers is to leave the heels at home and go for comfortable flat shoes that will allow you to stride swiftly through departures without the clickety-clack of shoes more suited to an evening after-work drinks.
Being a member of an airline reward scheme can be useful to get you into the business lounge but you may also want to consider schemes such as Priority Pass, which can get you and a guest access from £69 a year.
Your boss may already belong to such a scheme but, if not, you can both catch up on emails in a comfy seat before flying and you’ll look like a savvy, seasoned traveller.
Be professional and courteous
It’s obvious advice but drinking too much is a really bad idea. Remember that people are always impressed by how someone can resolve any situation without a fuss (another good reason to keep the drinking down).
So, if a hotel booking goes wrong or a restaurant reservation can’t be located, it’s best to be firm and polite rather than incandescent. If you were in your boss’s shoes, would you promote the person who made the hotel receptionist run for cover or the person who ensured a slip-up resulted in an apology and a better table or upgraded room the next day?
Private time is fine
Once the business issues of the day have been discussed and small talk given a good airing, no boss will mind you putting the headphones on or tucking your nose into a good book.
Might be a good idea to make sure it’s not 50 Shades of Grey, though. And guys, air drumming is a really bad idea, even if you’ve got a heavy rock playlist on loop.
