Leadership and Travel
In today’s mobile society, some leaders may find it difficult to provide leadership while on the road. Communicating via phone, e-mail, and text message can cause the intended message to get lost in the medium. For those leaders who are frequent travelers, leadership does not have to be in person to be effective. Here are a few key concepts for leaders to follow when providing leadership while they are away from the office:
- Communicate frequently – Communicate with key employees while you are on the road. Conduct a conference call, if necessary, when key decisions need to be made while you are away. It may also be in the orgainzation’s best interest to delegeate authority to keep the tactical facets of the business moving until you return.
- Have a meeting when you return – Upon your return, conduct a regular staff meeting to understand what has happened while you were away. It will demonstrate to your employees that they play an integral role in the organization. It will also provide you with insight to what needs your attention next.
- Trust your employees to do the right thing – Leaders need to trust that their employees will do the right thing and make the right decisions. If a less than desirable decision is made, coach the employee so they can make a better decision the next time.
Many leaders cannot avoid the need to travel, and providing leadership during times of travel can be overwhelming. Remember that employees are watching leaders to see how they will respond during hectic times. Keep a positive outlook and trust your employees, and these times won’t be so trying.
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