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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 19 2007, 1:29 PM EDT (current) | jimglab | 3 words added, 1 word deleted |
| May 8 2007, 5:35 PM EDT | jimglab |
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a mind to travel
March 2007
With some advance planning and the right attitude, traveling with your team can be the perfect opportunity to boost morale.
Remember when airplanes were less crowded, and being a frequent flier had real perks? I do. And when I think back to those good ol’ days, one event pops to mind.
I was on a business trip with my boss. (I’ll call him Art.) While we were waiting to board our flight to attend a company-sponsored team-building session, Art was complaining about how the employees he oversaw (including me) lacked any esprit de corps, and that team-building training may be just what the doctor ordered.
Shortly after we boarded the plane, a flight attendant appeared and, because I was a frequent flier of that airline, offered to move me to the first-class cabin. I looked at Art, recalled his recent complaint about the lack of camaraderie, considered the effect on my career that abandoning him for an upgrade would have, then said, “No, thank you. I’ll stay here.”
The flight attendant then turned to Art and repeated the offer. Without hesitation, he said, “Sure. Let’s go!”
Now, don’t get me wrong. I was happy to see him leave. Nevertheless, it rubbed me the wrong way that he would prefer a slightly more comfy seat, a free drink and a conversation with a stranger over kibitzing with me. So much for esprit de corps.
I recently recounted this story to a colleague — one who, I should note, wouldn’t abandon me for a beer. Dr. Tom Butz, a clinical and organizational development psychologist in Santa Cruz, Calif., is a colleague and no stranger to the challenges of getting groups to operate as teams. When I asked him for some tips on how to use travel as a team-building opportunity, he offered this advice to bosses traveling with their staff.
Exhibit equality
Don’t expect your staff to feel like part of a team if they travel in less style than you. Plan to fly in the same class, take the same public transportation and stay in the same hotel with your staff. It matters less what level of service you receive than it does that you’re all in it together. And don’t just hang out with your pet employees. Mix it up with staff members you interact with less frequently as well.
Display your human side
“The number one team-building device that leaders possess,” according to Butz, “is to open up to show their human sides.” The experiences you share with your staff outside of the work environment, such as those that happen during your time in transit, are perhaps more important to building a sense of camaraderie than those where corporate rules limit the opportunity to display your personality.
Gather feedback
Extended periods of time together afford you a chance to collect information about what’s really going on in the trenches. Butz suggests asking open-ended questions, such as, “Tell me, off the record, what is happening among the staff that I’m not seeing.” This is not only an excellent way to get unfiltered information, but it also gives the person being queried a sense of contributing to organizational improvement.
Challenge your staff
Employees are always looking for a chance to shine in front of their bosses. Traveling together can provide just that opportunity. For instance, instead of making a client presentation yourself, assign it to one or more of your staff. Make sure that time and resources are available to prepare a first-rate presentation, and that they are coached and practiced enough to be confident and persuasive. Then turn them loose and watch them fly.
Summarize, recognize and celebrate
When returning from a trip with your staff, take the time to hold a debriefing session. Get all the members to contribute their thoughts on what went well and what could have been done better. End the session by recognizing the special talents and skills that each member brought to the effort, and celebrate whatever accomplishments were attained during the trip.
With a little forethought, traveling with your staff can be a real opportunity for you and for them to build tighter bonds.
Oh, and my trip to the team-building session with Art? Well, instead of hanging with the rest of us, he spent much of his time responding to emails and schmoozing with other company executives. Not surprisingly, our corps still has little esprit.
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27% of business travelers report the most enjoyable part of their trip is meetings with colleagues and/or clients.
Source: American Express Global Business Travel Survey (2005)
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