They Don't Teach Corporate in College (13 page)

4. Review your itinerary ahead of time.
Go over your schedule to make sure you know where you're supposed to be at all times and how you're going to get there. Leave large time cushions in between each activity so that you can make it from one place to the next without having a heart attack.

5. Sign up for a frequent flyer account.
Frequent flyer miles are the best way to make your business travel hassles pay off. For example, my husband and I went to Australia on miles we earned traveling for our respective jobs. While you're at it, make sure the credit card you use for business is linked to a frequent flyer program too.

6. Print out important materials.
You never know when your laptop is going to decide to have a temper tantrum. Technology often fails us on business trips, so if you really need something for a meeting, carry both hard and virtual copies.

7. Assign colleagues to share your workload.
Keep the machine running by making a detailed list of tasks you need covered while you're gone and delegating each one to a trusted colleague. Set up your email and voicemail systems with an “Out of the Office” message, complete with emergency contact information.

8. Pack necessities in your carry-on bag.
Once your Samsonite disappears down the conveyor belt and into that black hole, you can't
control where it ends up. Of course, 99 percent of the time, your baggage will make it safely to your destination. Even so, have a contingency plan, just in case.

9. Block out the noise.
A good night's sleep is imperative to your effectiveness on a business trip. Regardless of where you're going, assume that your hotel will be louder than a big city apartment building, and pack earplugs or download a white noise app like “Relax and Sleep” to one of your devices.

10. Carry snacks and a bottle of water.
In the alternate universe known as business travel, something as simple as eating can turn into a complex task you can't be bothered with. In case you have to miss a meal, tide yourself over with a granola or protein bar. And don't forget to stay hydrated, especially when you're flying.

11. Dress up, not down.
When you're attending meetings in unfamiliar surroundings, wear business-appropriate attire. Even if the folks you're meeting with are dressed casually, no one will fault you for being the only one in a suit. Pack your clothes in a garment bag and use the iron in your hotel room to keep your attire looking neat and wrinkle-free.

12. Roll your laptop.
Save yourself an excruciating backache by rolling a carry-on bag instead of lugging it around on your shoulder. You'd be surprised how heavy all of that hardware can be after a day on the road.

13. Fly during business hours.
Inevitably, taking a business trip means working longer hours anyway, so don't be a martyr and volunteer to take a red-eye flight. You're already stressed, so why should you be bone-tired too? Also, don't feel obligated to work during the flight out. Use the time to relax and mentally prepare yourself for the trip ahead.

14. Pay someone to drive you around.
Even if you take pride in your sense of direction, do you really want to be bothered with navigating a rental car through the bowels of a strange city? If your company will allow it, stick to taxis or corporate cars. Just don't forget to carry extra money! In some cities, you will need to pay your driver in cash, so multiple or long trips will often cost more money than you may typically carry in your wallet.

15. Check in at the office frequently.
Never allow your boss to think you've dropped off the face of the earth—even if you're super busy.
Drop her a text or an email to update her on your whereabouts, and don't let her catch you spending half a day gambling in the Las Vegas airport.

16. Log on as often as possible.
Use Wi-Fi religiously so that you can keep on top of the endless stream of issues and action items back at the office. Even if your boss isn't expecting you to do this, you'll be grateful you did after you return to work when your trip is over.

17. Check your watch and wake-up calls.
When you arrive in a new time zone, reset your watch and devices in order to avoid confusion later on. Also, don't rely on your alarm clock or the hotel's wake-up call alone to make sure you're on time for a morning meeting. Use both, just in case.

18. Take advantage of the hotel's fitness center.
Running on the treadmill or lifting weights is a great way to relieve stress and to work off those extra pounds you've put on from eating out every day.

19. Have dinner with friends or family instead of your coworkers.
Does anyone from your personal life live in the city where you're traveling? Make an effort to get together instead of hanging out with the same colleagues you see all day. Business travel is a great way to catch up with folks you wouldn't get to spend time with otherwise.

20. Extend your stay to do some sightseeing.
If your company is paying for you to fly to a city you've never visited, why not stay the weekend and treat yourself to some fun activities? There's nothing more frustrating than being in New York City from Monday through Thursday and spending the entire time in a convention center.

I've logged hundreds of business trips, and I still get stymied by some of these points. I'll never forget the time I arrived at JFK Airport only to find that my flight to Washington was departing from La Guardia Airport. If only I had reviewed my itinerary ahead of time! Learn how to travel smart, however, and your experiences as a road warrior can add a rewarding new dimension to your job.

At the beginning of my career as a speech therapist, I was being supervised while seeing clients. One morning my alarm didn't go off, and when I finally woke up I realized that I wasn't going to get
to my client on time. So I called my supervisor and just canceled. I was later penalized for this incident. Looking back, I'd tell myself to do whatever I could to see that client, even if it meant arriving a few minutes late. You always get more credit for showing up and doing your best than not showing up at all.

Naomi, 37, Chicago

Combat stereotypes. Prepare for the challenge of being stereotyped according to your age. Paying close attention to your appearance and how you introduce yourself to new colleagues will ensure that you come across as a mature professional.

Take your work seriously. At the start of a new job, no conversation or assignment should be taken lightly. Opinions formed from initial interactions are very difficult to change.

Observe your new organization's culture. Adapt your behavior and work style to fit within your company's boundaries. The most successful employees are those who assimilate quickly.

Remember that perception is reality. Be on your best behavior during the first few weeks at a new job.

Now that you have the big-picture view of your new company, it is time to get to know people one on one. Establishing strong on-the-job relationships will drive your career growth and give you a reason to come to work in the morning. When you first meet new colleagues, it's hard to imagine having an informal lunch meeting with them or talking reality television in front of the watercooler. You might think that your fellow employees should approach you because you are the new kid. However, in most companies, the pace of business is so frenetic that you'll be lucky if people even notice you've arrived. It's your responsibility to make sure that you are professionally and socially integrated into your department, and you'll be better off if you take action sooner rather than later. In this chapter, I'll discuss strategies for getting to know your new boss and navigating your company's social scene. I'll also touch on how to practice cringe-free networking, how to scout out the antidote for
business-world insanity—your mentor—and how to leverage executive sponsorship for the benefit of your forward momentum.

My immediate supervisor was so disorganized that it drove me up the wall. He was so busy trying to find his way out from underneath his desk that he was unable to communicate any vision whatsoever. His style put me off so much that I started to get really bitter. Eventually I could see my attitude seeping into our interactions, and I think my boss could tell that I didn't like him. Soon he found subtle ways to let me know he felt the same way, and the next thing I knew, I was getting all of the most boring assignments. I didn't want to sabotage my career, so I tried focusing on my boss's strengths. I found that he was a great listener and that he could talk sports with greater finesse than my husband. By making a conscious effort to value what he brought to the table, I was able to turn things around between us.

Dvora, 26, Florida

There are as many different types of bosses in the professional world as there are people, and, hopefully, the manager you work for is a good fit for you. As the captain of your department's ship, your boss is responsible for the group's success, and, to a great extent, your own. As such, it's crucial that you get to know your immediate supervisor early and determine her priorities. During your first days in the trenches, observe your boss in action. If you can, shadow her for a day to see how she interacts with junior and senior employees, and how she handles different situations. Business consultant C. Sam Benson, in his article “Your Management Success,” defines the following basic management styles:

Aggressive:
competitive, decisive, direct; likes immediate results.