Road Warrior Series: Business Trip Survival

But every good road warrior knows that the best offense is a good defense: be prepared. Good preparation for a business trip – whether it lasts two days or two weeks – can be the difference between basking in the glow of your boss’ praise or quietly wishing things had gone differently. By following these three tips for perfect preparation, you will not only survive but thrive during your time away from the office.

• Get Organized: Making a list of everything from your toothpaste to your phone charger is a great way to get started. List your essentials to prevent an embarrassing situation when you forget key items, like business cards for potential clients or your trusty blow dryer. And if you travel often, keep this basic list on your computer so you don’t have to re-write it for every trip.

• Pack Light: Another key factor in road warrior success is packing light. You don’t want to be the only one lugging around three different suitcases for the whole trip. Suits can take up a lot of space in a suitcase, which can prove to be problematic when you need to bring documents for everyone at the conference. Byprinting online, you can avoid the need to travel with pre-printed documents and ensure that your presentation materials make it to your hotel on time. And you’ll still be able to leave room in your suitcase for an extra business suit!

• Coordinate with Coworkers: Checking in with coworkers the day before a trip is another crucial part of business trip survival. Your colleagues can not only remind you of what to bring, but also calm your nerves about the impending work that needs to be done while away. Better yet, find the light packers in your group and see if you can use some of their extra luggage space.