Travelling with your staff can be an enjoyable productive experience if you maintain professionalism and set clear expectations. That being said it can be easy for roles and expectations to be blurred or misunderstood while abroad. However if managed correctly travelling is also one of the best times to bond with your team and foster teamwork among your staff. To help you make travelling with your staff simple and rewarding we’ve listed some of the dos and don’ts while travelling with your staff.
Dos While Travelling with Your Staff
Following the right protocol while travelling helps you and your staff have a productive and positive travel experience. Clear communication and adaptability can strengthen your professional relationships and minimise risk.
Here are some of the most important things to remember while travelling with your staff:
1. Communicate Clearly
It’s important to communicate with your staff to ensure that they are well aware of the purpose and goals of your trip. You can provide regular updates throughout the trip to relay information promptly and share your thoughts. Clear communication enables transparency that’ll help you and your staff navigate any obstacles that may arise during the trip.
2. Determine Responsibilities Ahead of Time
It’s important to establish employee roles and responsibilities ahead of time when their work setting changes. This includes determining their hours and what they are responsible for while travelling. Be transparent with your employees ahead of time about overtime rates and what will be considered work vs. time off so that everyone’s expectations are aligned before the trip begins.
3. Set Clear Boundaries Ahead of Time
Work-life balance meals breaks and accommodation all change when you and your staff are travelling. It’s important to set clear expectations and communicate them to your staff ahead of time. Make sure that travel schedules incorporate any necessary breaks. Communicate to staff which travel arrangements meals or transportation they are responsible for managing working or supporting. Also make clear communication on transportation reimbursement.
Don’ts While Travelling with Your Staff
Travel can be chaotic and demanding for your employees if it is not handled properly. Here are a few things to avoid while travelling in order to eliminate any tension or confusion.
1. Micromanage
It’s better to let staff take responsibility for their roles rather than micromanaging them. You can guide your staff if needed particularly in a new situation but refrain from controlling every detail. Establish expectations ahead of time so that you can focus on your own work or vacation and staff feel enabled to carry out their roles.
2. Neglect Safety
Safety during travel is crucial for you and your staff. It’s better to make thorough arrangements and adopt safety procedures before travelling. Make sure that your staff will be able to contact you during travel if there are any delays cancellations or safety concerns. You should maintain a channel where your staff can discuss safety concerns if they have any.
3. Expect Constant Availability
Though schedules may change during travel it’s important that your staff still has a work-life balance. Make sure that expectations about overtime and scheduling are communicated ahead of time. Employees should be fully aware of the hours they will be working and how much overtime pay they will receive. Even though they may be staying in the same place be careful to respect your staff’s boundaries especially during their off hours.
Conclusion
Travelling with your staff is a unique opportunity to foster both personal and professional growth. It’s necessary to implement clear communication and prioritise respect for personal space throughout the journey. If clear expectations and boundaries are communicated ahead of time your travel goals will align with the professional responsibilities of your staff keeping your travel simple productive and smooth.
