Work/Life Balance Tips for the Business TravelerWritten by Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE
Balance and business traveler has everything to do with staying "connected". As I indicate in my book, Work for a Living & Still Be Free to Live, we achieve a fluctuating balance by how we CHOOSE to stay connected with critical areas of our life. Business travel can take a heavy emotional, physical and mental toll.Let me suggest some ways to stay connected with these areas while "on road": Emotional -- staying connected with your home base and significant people. If you have children, depending upon their ages, consider following: Take your child with you in your imagination. Ask them if they would select a SMALL toy of theirs that you could carry with you and so stay connected with them. Tape-record a favorite story or a good night ritual that can be played before child goes to sleep. With child, track your travels on a map and together talk about some of places or things of interest about your destination (lobsters in Maine; skyscrapers in NY, lions at Chicago Art Museum.) As an added bonus, you will have a new appreciation for place where you'll be. Send post cards home to each member of family (Make up labels in advance and buy stamps. You only need to write one personal line. Doesn't matter that you'll get home before postal. You thought of them.- Leave love notes for your partner (under pillow/ with toothpaste/ on bathroom mirror)- My husband leaves a message with hotel operator to deliver "Bill loves you most!" Operators really get a kick out of delivering this message- Have a different e-mail address for family members and send home messages- Take a blank book and fill it with favorite pictures of home, family, friends, pet. Always take book with you on your travels. (I do!)- If possible, make separate calls to your spouse and your children. That way, no one has to share "air time". Physical -- staying connected with your body-- Be THERE. Don't keep two watch times. You'll be tempted to say "But I can't go to sleep now--it's only 7pm in CA. or :I can't get up at 6:00--it's only 3AM in CA.)-- Plan time (it won't just appear) for exercise of any kind. Bring shoes for running or walking. Bring exercise rubber bands for muscle tone. (Take up no room) Use stairs rather than elevator where possible--Bring any item which can easily make you "feel at home" This can be anything from a pillow case, a teddy bear, a small picture.--If it's your style, bring herbal scents for room; bath salts; One friend carries a device for drowning out sound. She turns it on and selects anything from ocean sounds to raindrops...--Try a portable vaporizer. Clears sinuses and puts moisture back into face.-- Bring saline solution nasal spray for airlines. Also, a small atomizer of water (some kinds are mixed with aloe). Body tissues become very dehydrated on flights.--Drink more water than you ever thought possible.-- Always ask for a room away from elevator and ice machine-- Unless you have great stamina, avoid red eye flights. Much better to come in rested to do work than stumble your way through a meeting.-- Find luggage that works for you. Weight, size, length of shoulder strap. --Lighten load: if an extended trip, ship home materials or clothes you won't need. Bring a pre-addressed packing slip. Concierge can help. Whenever possible, check your baggage. Carry only with you necessities for work and personal hygiene and health. Wear clothes that could suit for your meeting should luggage not make it. There's far too much carry-on these days.
| | The Newest Case for Human CapitalWritten by Eileen McDargh, CSP, CPAE
The United Kingdom-based Institute of Personnel and Development recently released a study showing that investing in people rather than technology makes a far greater contribution to an organization’s bottom line. The seven-year study of more than 100 medium-sized companies found that way people are managed and developed accounts for 19 percent of variation in profitability between companies and 18 percent of productivity difference. R&D accounted for only 8% percent of variation in profitability between companies and 6 percent of difference in productivity while new technology, quality and competitive strategies each accounted for 1 percent difference. In short, meaningful results don’t come in a plug-and-play box. Rather, engaging contribution and talents of employees is true, sustainable key to long-term success. What does it take for engagement? It takes conversation. Not too ago, mantra was “stop talking and get to work.” May I suggest that new rallying cry is, “Start talking and get to work.” As technology distances us from each other, we need to find ways to have extended, meaningful interactions which allow people to voice concerns, feelings, opinion, ideas, and questions. Relationship first has risen to challenge old task orientation. Employees want to share attitudes, beliefs, as well as workspace. Conversations begin with employee orientation and progress through a variety of programs, forums, and focused retreats. Conversations center around contribution, concerns, outcomes, and yes, fun. Let me give you some
|
