In today’s connected economy, it can be easy to forget the value of face-to-face business. 2015 research by imago and Loughborough University School of Business and Economics found that 97% of respondents thought small meetings were the best method of communication.
MS Teams simply won’t wash, especially when dealing with international clients, suppliers, and partners, making business travel a must. If you’re a businessperson, to help, here are some crucial tips on how to conduct your business travel the right way.
Travel documentation
First and foremost, don’t forget your travel documentation and make sure that it is in a safe place. A travel folio can be a good option for paper documents, but with so many travel providers opting for barcodes, QR codes, apps, and emails, placing your documents on a password-protected memory stick and within a secure cloud account is a much simpler idea. As long as your laptop or smartphone is charged, digital documents are much more accessible and loss-proof than paper.
Smart attire
It’s crucial you make a good impression when meeting new clients and partners – a Virgin survey reported by Entrepreneur noted that 72% of people’s first impressions were impacted by handshakes and appearance. That means you need to make sure you have packed your smart clothing before you embark.
Laid-back items
Bring along some looser clothing and sleep aids like ear plugs and a sleep mask. When you’re out making business during the day, it’s important you get the right amount of relaxing downtime – otherwise the next day’s deals could be impacted.
Tech necessities
Even if you and your business partner are planning on staying over at a serviced apartment in London, you’ll still need to bring along the important business tech that keeps your company running. Laptop, phone, and chargers are all important when working on the go, so create and go down a checklist before you leave on your trip.
Business cards
While many professionals swear on the likes of LinkedIn, business cards still have a place in today’s networking scene. If your business travel involves heading to industry events, conferences, or meeting many prospective suppliers, customers, or partners, then investing in a memorable, high-quality business card can be a great way to stick in people’s minds. Make sure to include your name, email, social media handles, and phone number – plus any flourishes key to your personal brand.
