5 Secrets to Managing Your Business While Traveling

One of the most significant benefits the 21st century gave to businesses of all kinds is flexibility. With the advent of multiple technologies, the continual advancement and ubiquity of the internet, and internet connectivity, all of this made our lives easier and doing business much simpler. So how about bringing your business with you?

Bringing your work with you when you travel has become much more manageable. Whether you want to get some work done while on vacation, have a long business trip ahead of you, or simply want to travel the world, you can still get your job done. If you want to learn more, check out the article below.

1. Talk to your clients

First things first – let everybody know. Your employees, coworkers, and clients need to know you’re going on a long-ish trip (perhaps indefinitely). Everybody needs to prepare accordingly, including yourself.

So, you need to sit down or call up your clients and people at your company. Inform them of your plan. What we can’t emphasize enough is how much you need to prepare for this meeting.

On the client front, you need to be very throughout. Explain to them who they will be talking to in the future for which issues. Give them your schedule, part of your timetable. They need to be aware when they can contact you, what parts of the business will be handled by yourself, and how they are supposed to stay in touch.

Similar rules apply for your employees.

2. Learn how to communicate and delegate

Like the above, you need to prep your employees and coworkers. Keep them posted on what’s going on, let them know when they can contact you easily. Communication is key here. Your people need to be able to always contact you at set times, in an already agreed-upon manner.

You also need a centralized hub through which you should all communicate. To be honest, this one is important even if you’re all at the office, but it’s indispensable if you’re gonna travel. Remember that you can always walk off the beaten path (you’re doing it already). Get employee apps that are alternatives to teams, Slack, and Skype. You might just need something new, something that fits your organization and company culture better.

Once you have a system in place, you need to restructure some aspects of your business. Take on duties that you can do from abroad, and delegate as much as you can. Think long and hard, brainstorm with your people, see what you need to handle right away, and what are the right tasks for them. This can serve as a fantastic learning experience for them and for yourself.

3. Proper scheduling can save your bacon

While you’re on the road, you need to have a set schedule in place (the same schedule you shared with your employees and your clients). Now, this doesn’t necessarily have to stop you from spending days on end traveling, seeing the sights, enjoying your time abroad. What it should do is show exactly when people can contact you, when you’re supposed to do your assignments and answer emails.

For example, you can spend 2 days on the road, where you can only answer emails and get some basic work done. Then, you can answer employee questions in the evenings, so that they know what they should do the next morning, while you can start your day with the beach.

Scheduling also keeps you on track. It serves as a reminder to get work done, to not lose focus and let your company wither away. It also keeps your employees in check.

4. Saying no is vital

It’s not a sin to say no. Some opportunities might be very useful, but maybe what you really need at the moment is to get your bearings and see the world a bit. Taking on too much work without really wanting to do it does not bode well for you, the company, or the potential client.

Every single minute of your time matters when you’re on the road. Saying no to opportunities that you can’t handle is important, but so is saying no to things that don’t matter that much. Say no to phone calls that can be summed up in an email. Say no to interviews and guest posts that don’t really contribute to your company. Say no to anything that doesn’t directly help your business or your travels.

5. On-the-road maintenance

Something will go wrong. Just accept that. However, you should work hard on minimizing the potential damage that can occur, as well as preparing yourself to handle it when it does. There are three types of potential problems that can spring up:

– A disaster at the workplace
– Health issues
– Traveling/logistical issues

For the workplace, our point on delegation will help. Have a plan ready, something your employees can follow when the stuff hits the fan. Try to check-in through a special emergency channel, or instruct an employee to send you an email to a specific address that is only used for emergencies. Maybe create a video or an employee handbook on how to handle things like these.

You might get into some health issues while you’re on the road. Eating something you shouldn’t have, not getting totally acclimated to a new climate, or just physical exhaustion can mean trouble. Our only advice is to take care of yourself, maybe get some probiotics, and remember to pace yourself and leave some energy for the job.

Finally, your car might break down. Maybe a plane is late, or you have trouble with your hotel. Always have a charger and a USB modem with you, just so you can save some time and be prepared to contact your people and inform them about your problems.

Conclusion

The dream can become reality if you just put some elbow grease and be a bit flexible. Learn how to delegate tasks, projects, and activities. Saying no is vital as well. Proper centralization will help your team, and you, when it comes to finishing up tasks abroad. Invest in the proper tools, make a schedule and stick to it, and you can travel as much as you want, while still managing a successful company.