Travelling extensively is a skill and an art for entrepreneurs. It’s imperative that you have systems and teams in place to ensure that it’s ‘business as usual’ when you are in airplanes, hotel rooms and meetings for a long period of time. You must continue to fill the sales funnel, attract clients and serve your customers, too!
I am often asked how I manage to do all that – and put in the miles at the same time. I’ll keep this short and sweet for you because it really is not complicated.
1) KEEP IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR TEAM. Having a strong and competent team in place is key to success when it comes to travelling extensively and keeping the business going at the same time. Constant communication is key! When I am on the road, I ensure that, at a minimum, I have a quick phone chat with my manager first thing every morning – that may be from my hotel room, from a meeting room or from an airport. No matter where – this must happen. My team needs to know where I am, what’s happening, and to let me know what they need from me, if anything. It’s always about open, clear and honest communication – keeping them in the loop. When you show you care about them – they care about you and the clients you serve.
2) PUT AN OUT-OF-OFFICE MESSAGE ON YOUR EMAIL. Just as it’s important to keep in communication with your team, it’s also important that prospects and clients know and understand what your availability is when you travel. There are times when I am just not available during a regular business day when I’m travelling – however, I do ensure that my ‘out of office’ message gives people a point of contact. My manager knows how to contact me at any time – and therefore, if someone really does need to connect with me, we ensure that happens!
3) PROMPT FOLLOW-UP. When I am on the road for business, it’s typically speaking, sponsoring and/or learning. No matter what the scenario, it’s always about business – and it’s always about relationships. Prompt follow-up is essential. I always make time, within a 48-hour period, to follow up with people when I have promised something. Keep your word. Carve out time at the end of a day, or the beginning of the next day, to reach out and follow up. People appreciate it when you keep your word! Be that person! And if it’s not possible for YOU to be the one doing the follow-up, go back to Tip #1 above, and ensure someone from your team does the follow up for you. That’s where the money is, people – in the follow-up. And that’s where your integrity lies also.
Travelling extensively is something I choose to do to grow my business. While some of this could be handled online with technology these days, my preference is always the ‘in person’ touch. It is about relationships and the old-fashioned ‘eye ball to eye ball’ technique still tops it all, in my opinion.
So, just because you are on the road, doesn’t mean you neglect your business. Follow these simple 3 steps and I can assure you that things can run smoothly while you are out there doing what you need to do – grow the business, attract ideal clients, make money …….all the while enjoying a great lifestyle in some pretty nice places!
