As entrepreneurs, we have the freedom to design our work schedules and turn travel into a competitive advantage. But constantly being on the go while trying to figure out how to build your empire and lead a team can become chaotic. So the question is, can a nomadic lifestyle be repurposed as a strategy that fuels growth milestones, fosters crucial connections and new partnerships, and still accommodates a quick little summer break?
Create your own rituals on the road
We all follow some kind of routine or have certain work habits or rituals, so why wouldn’t we design our travel routine with these rituals in mind?
Set realistic goals for yourself regarding what you want to achieve each day. You may be traveling for business, but your endless to-do list isn’t on pause. So, regardless of the purpose of your trip, outline when you plan to engage in deep work sessions or get to the front line to collaborate with your team if needed.
Some of the most successful CEOs today have achieved the title because they’ve adopted daily habits that ensure their brains are continually optimized, regardless of how many directions they’re being pulled in.
We all think creatively, strategically, analytically or need a break at various points of the day, and we should lean in these windows before they close. If you wake up at the crack of dawn, make coffee, and get straight into the first creative task of the day before handling admin, start your day the same when on a business trip, as much as possible. Maintaining that routine will help you stay in the rhythm and decrease the mental strain of switching between tasks and locations.
Accept that you don’t own a time-traveling Delorean
How you allocate your time matters, which means there is no room for growth if you don’t give yourself the time.
These work trips are ideal opportunities to strike that balance between being a hands-on leader and living by the rule that if you can find someone who can do the job 75% as well as you can, then it’s worth delegating. This is easier said than done for those of us crafting our empires with a small team or even a couple of assistants at first. But it’s vital to set these boundaries for yourself and others.
The only way to reach the point where you’re comfortably delegating tasks and feeling confident in your team is to leave for a trip knowing you were at the front and the back lines, the vision behind a particular ongoing project is understood and the feedback you provided was adequate.
More often than not, there may still be a situation where your team needs you, so I’ve learned from experience to keep my trips short where possible, which will also help me physically and mentally. A lot can happen in a week, and I found anything longer than one and a half weeks makes me fall behind. It’s a good amount of time to focus on your trip, knowing you’ll be back soon to handle anything pressing.
Intentionally find your off switch
As entrepreneurs, the lines between our personal and professional lives quickly become blurred. Time off takes a back seat, and it’s easy to conflate being in a new destination with feeling a sense of relief — mentally and physically — at least until you get back from your trip.
Travel can push you to create a blueprint that prioritizes recovery so that you can show up every day as the leader you’re striving to be. Yes, many of us can’t help but be on 24/7, and every new destination is undoubtedly an opportunity to learn the nuances of international business and diverse cultural perspectives. Still, it’s also about making time for hobbies and rest.
There’s a lot we can learn from taking a step back and immersing ourselves in a new space with the intention of prioritizing mental well-being before burnout rolls around. If a side mission to a remote destination with limited cell service is what you need to switch off, then actively pursue this on trips that make sense.
Share with the group
The invaluable experience you gain as an entrepreneur who is constantly experiencing new destinations, people, business styles and cultures can be turned into valuable lessons and encourage your team to see things from new perspectives. Bring your team something from your travels, whether that’s a new management style to experiment with, knowledge of trends and movements underway, a simple token of gratitude or proactively recognizing what was done in your absence.
These small things go a long way because being an effective leader today has everything to do with being open to new ways of doing things and recognizing when it’s time for a change.
Opinions expressed by SmartBrief contributors are their own.
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