Business travel can be both rewarding in terms of opportunities it offers, but it can also tire you down and subject you to jet lag and fatigue especially if you are boarding a long flight. Things can get even worse if you are the only one accompanying your boss or don’t know much about the destination.
That does not mean that traveling for corporate purposes with a group of co-workers that differ in age, experience, and interests is less stressful. If you want to make your business travel with office colleagues less of a hassle then, this article is for you. In this article, you will learn about ways to keep stress at bay while traveling with your co-workers.
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Contents
1. Plan Your Trip Well In Advance
If you are a budget conscious traveler like me, you should plan your business trip weeks in advance. Not only do you have to pay less for air ticket, but you can book your desired rooms at a discounted rate. The earlier you book, the more money you will be able to save. Make sure you reserve your vehicles too so you can drive easily from one place to another. Don’t forget to decide on who will drive because believe it or not, these minor issues are the ones that could create conflicts and spoil the mood of the entire team. You can easily prevent this by deciding who will drive before even flying for your next trip.
2. Swap Schedules
Yes, this might seem a bit odd to many readers, but it works. It is important to tell your schedule to your colleague, but it is even more important to know their schedule as well. This will help you prevent stepping on each other toes or interfering in each other matters. You can reap the rewards for it especially when you are traveling in the same vehicle or boarding different flights.
Just because someone is a workaholic does not mean that they are the most punctual ones. You will find people who might be great at the workplace but will be hours late for flights. This could put you at the risk of missing flights as you are traveling with a group.
Img source: medium.co3. Know Your Fellows
Going on a business trip gives you an opportunity to know your co-workers up close and personally. Despite spending hours with them daily, you don’t get time to know each other when you are at the workplace. When you are on a desert safari Dubai tour, you can get to know your colleague better. Share experiences and talk on topics of mutual interest. This will help you to create a stronger bond with your co-workers which would go a long way in helping you at the workplace.
When you ask for help after returning from your business trip, they would be more than happy to lend a helping hand. Even small gestures like giving them a gift on their birthdays can go a long way in strengthening your relationship with them. Know their preferences and surprise them with something they love but are not expecting from you. Make sure you avoid sharing too much private information, discussing sensitive topics or gossiping.
4. Don’t Shy Away from Saying No
When you travel with a group, you might be forced to do things that you don’t want to do. You might be persuaded to take actions that are out of your comfort zones. There would be instances where your group might be interested in going to a bar or a nightclub for drinking, but you don’t want to go, and they are forcing you to accompany them. What would you do in such a situation? Say “No” right.
Even if you are accompanying them to the bar, tell them that you will not drink. Although, there is nothing wrong with joining the group for positive activities, but if it becomes a habit, it is better to say no. Steve Jobs summed it up brilliantly when he said, “Deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do.”
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5. Spend Some Time with Yourself
Yes, you are on a business trip with your colleagues, and you share a hotel room with them, but there are situations where both of you should leave each other alone. Spend some time alone in a quiet room and enjoy the serenity of the atmosphere. It will de-stress you like nothing else could. You can use that time to hire a yacht in Dubai and relax. Connect with your loved ones back home and share a few moments with them. It will help you focus better and refresh your mind and body.
How do you avoid stress while traveling with co-workers? Feel free to share it with us in the comments section below.
