December 12, 2017 |
Virginia limousine service |
Randy Allen
Business trips can be a fantastic opportunity for new members of staff to branch out on their own, meet clients or others within the business, and work more independently, but the challenge for you as a manager is to continue to help them whilst they are on the go without as much contact as they might be used to. However, help is at hand! Read on for our top tips for managing staff when they’re away from the office on business travel.
This one probably goes without saying, but you should ensure that you schedule regular catch-ups with staff whilst they’re out of the office. Let them know when you’ll be expecting to contact them so that they can be well prepared and you won’t waste any time waiting for the information you need if they’re unprepared. Regular catch-ups will help put your mind at ease and it will also make your staff feel that their contribution is valued.
- Don’t call or email too often
Having suggested regular catch-ups it’s important not to be in touch too often. Modern technology makes it all too easy to get in touch with remote staff whenever and wherever we might be, but you need to find the right balance between informative and overkill. You will soon irritate staff if you try to contact them too much and this could even lead to lower productivity levels – especially if they are spending most of their time following up on your queries or comments.
- Trust staff to make decisions
When your staff are travelling for business it is crucial to trust them to make decisions as you would do if they were in the office. You have hired them to carry out a particular role and there is no reason that they shouldn’t be just as competent as if they are working in their usual environment. Make sure you let staff know that you trust them to make decisions, but if you do require them to run something past you then make this clear from the outset, that way there are no unpleasant surprises on either side.
- If things go wrong, let it go
Some things will inevitably go wrong during a trip, but try not to leap to the conclusion that it was something that happened just because that staff member was out of the office at the time. Assess the situation and if it turns out to be an innocent error then try to move on and let it go. It may be useful to schedule a meeting once the staff member is back in the office so you can debrief and evaluate what may have gone wrong – as well as what went well. For now, just try not to dwell on any mistakes or place blame.
- Find reliable transport before they travel
You don’t want to take any risks with transport for your staff – getting around the city for meetings, conferences, or other important events is key to the success of their trip – and integral to your business. You can rely on our Virginia car service to ensure your staff members experience seamless, hassle free journeys, giving you one less thing to worry about whilst they’re gone!
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