The Joy of Traveling Like a Queen

There are often times when women have to go on a business trip.  It does not matter whether you are an executive or a sales manager.  Travel might be part of your job and the question arises, “How can I make the best of my boring business trip to a destination I don’t like, meeting with people that I am not particularly fond of and staying in a hotel that is not necessarily very impressive?”  Well, you can choose your friends but not your business trips.

Having lived in Germany for many years, I went on many business trips throughout Europe.  Some of the trips were fun, because they took me to great places such as Rome, Paris or London.  Others were really stressful and bad, because they took me to Rome, Paris or London, and the only places I saw were the airport, the cab and the meeting room.  You never really know what is going to happen, and sometimes time management forces you to keep the trip short and cost efficient.  I was Managing Director, so that I certainly had some influence on where and how long I wanted to stay.  Still there were outside factors that I could not ignore and that put me into the unfortunate position of taking a trip I did not enjoy.

What can you do when you are challenged to deal with these circumstances, and how can you turn a burden into a delightful adventure?  Here is what I propose and what I also experienced myself.  Remember whatever trip you take, you have to make it a valuable personal experience.  Be creative and think of ways to travel like a queen and not like a servant.

First of all, don’t forget you are a woman and shopping is always a satisfying treat.  There are shops everywhere and you can even visit the airport mall and treat yourself with a little something.  I remember buying bits and pieces at Heathrow airport that were a little bit more expensive, but I enjoyed distracting my mind from business and instead indulged in a little consumption.  You might say that this is a bit ‘girly’, and you might be right.  But I freely confess to being a woman.  The main thing is to make time for yourself and your needs.  Mine happened to be shopping occasionally.

One big rule for the woman who wants to travel like a queen is: Never forget to eat well and insist on breaks for lunch and dinner.  A clear mind needs breaks, food and drink.  When people tried to push me through an endless meeting with coffee and old rotten cookies, I specifically asked for a break.  I either expected to get some delicious snacks, or I insisted on a break that left me enough time to take care of myself.  There is no reason in the world why you should have to starve yourself through the day.  Business partners and clients will respect your desire for good treatment, and they will be happy to follow your lead.  Often managers are simply too scared to speak up when it comes to personal requirements.  Don’t step into that trap.  If you want to deliver excellence, you need to be treated excellently.  And if others do not take good care of you, you better take good care of yourself.  They will eventually realize that any engine needs fuel to function.  Therefore, always make sure you are getting good food for your brain.

Without exception, any meeting needs relaxing breaks.  This supports the success of the meeting and makes everybody feel more confident and happy.  After long hours of sitting and talking or negotiating, make sure you get a few minutes to stretch your legs and breathe.  If you are able to create a few minutes for yourself, you will be able to regain your strength and balance.  Especially when you are feeling exhausted or overwhelmed, it is useful to have time for re-centering.  This will help you to take better decisions, and you can stay in charge of the outcome of the meeting.

Last but not least, I want to encourage you to socialize with your clients or business partners.  If you visit a destination again and again and you have never seen anything other than the airport and meeting room, something is wrong with your management of the client relationship.  Engage in social activities and ask for a sightseeing tour, a cultural event or something else that reinforces these relationships.  We are business people, not robots.  One more thing: Make sure you stay in a pleasant hotel for overnight trips.  You are worth it.  A nice hotel makes you feel special, while an ugly and cheap hotel can make you feel like an underdog lacking self-worth.  I am sure you want to arrive at the meeting self-confident and relaxed, and a pleasant hotel will give you the comfort and relaxation you need.  To make the hotel stay even more pleasant, order room service and really feel like a pampered queen.

I truly believe that women can expect to be treated like women.  Let the guys carry your heavy luggage, let them open the doors for you and pay the cab.  Make them feel responsible for your well-being, and make them understand that only a happy queen will treat them well and lead them to success.  All the others who do not show you respect and make your business trip a military campaign need to learn a lesson.  Speak up for your own needs and requirements and turn the campaign into a fun and successful business trip.

Be a woman and act like one.

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Reprinted from “Hertha Wolff-Arend | Be a Woman and Act Like One” a blog  written by Hertha Wolff-Arend.  Subscribe at http://beawomanandactlikeone.com/ and receive Blog updates by email.

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