Travelling for work – top tips from a seasoned traveller
Travelling for work – pitfalls, tips and tricks from a seasoned traveller
Travelling overseas has been a key part of my life for the past 20 years, both personally and professionally. As I prepare for my next international trip to Melbourne, Australia to spend two weeks with Cairney & Company’s amazing clients (Deakin University, Burnet Institute, Baker Institute, WEHI and Victoria University), I find myself reflecting on what it means to be a ‘global fundraising consulting firm’, apart from hopping on and off planes.
There is a myth that glamour and travel go hand in hand, but this is definitely not always the case – I have many stories of lost suitcases and ripped trousers to prove it! But in a post-pandemic world getting on planes holds a renewed sense of excitement for me, as it’s one of the few opportunities I get to have time to myself.
So, with plenty of pros, cons, tips and tricks to explore, let’s look at travelling internationally for work more closely.
Travelling overseas and growing a global consultancy
Living in a hybrid working world has given us far greater access to international markets. Where once the expectation was that the only way to deliver work was in person, in lockdown things changed. During this time, Cairney & Company worked with a number of new international clients across China, Hong Kong and Australia that at the time we had never met - and some we are still yet to meet in person.
Given my experience of working overseas as Director of External Relations at Edinburgh Napier, I have seen firsthand the richness and diversity of engagement that working in different countries and cultures brings. So, it is no surprise that Cairney & Company has been a global consultancy from the outset, with Consulting Partners in Hong Kong, the US, Canada as well as in the UK.
I’m firmly committed to better understanding the global markets we operate in, and this past year I did a bit of a ‘global CASE-trotting tour’ exploring best practices, trends and global challenges. I attended the Leadership Summit in NYC for the first time, where I had the privilege of hosting a small reception, Sparkle with Diversity, alongside Tracy Playle of Pickle Jar Communications, Ben Plummer-Powell of LSE, and 30 other fabulous advancement professionals where we explored diversity from a number of different perspectives. I also attended the CASE Asia Pacific Conference in Melbourne, and then, closer to home, the CEAC 2023 in Edinburgh. I was also delighted to be invited back as a faculty member on the CASE South America Diplomado Programme.
This year I took a major leap and spent two months working in South Africa, delivering work to clients at home, locally and across the globe. Initially, I felt nervous telling clients that I would be out of the country for that length of time, but I found a great shared office space in Cape Town that suited me perfectly and I needn’t have worried. With only a one-hour time difference, not only did our clients and the Cairney & Company team have access to me, but I found I was more relaxed and could enjoy a better life/work balance. This might have had something to do with sunshine and sundowners.
The challenges and considerations of international travel
Although I was motivated by the exchange of ideas at the various conferences I attended, as well as by being onsite with our clients, all of which give me such an energy boost, there are many things to be mindful of when travelling or working overseas:
Watch out for time zones. You can’t be in two different countries at the same time. Even with virtual technologies, you could end up working 24/7 and no one benefits from that.
Remember to switch off. With WiFi available even at 38,000 feet, is there really such a thing as ‘out of office’? While checking your emails mid-flight might be tempting, allow yourself some time to relax.
Lost luggage. This had never happened to me until I travelled to NYC this year, where I had to spend two days without my luggage. I arrived at midnight and the only thing I could find was a 24-hour drug store for supplies, and the only clothing they had were half-price Pride t-shirts from the week before. I may have been tired and frustrated, but at least I was colourful. In future I will keep emergency supplies in my hand luggage.
Take some downtime and enjoy where you are. How often have you travelled long distances for work, but on your return home when people ask how it was, you are forced to share that you never got further than the boardroom that you worked in. Build in at least a day to explore where you are.
Many of the things I enjoy about working overseas are the amazing food, cultural experiences, shopping (for those of you who know me this is always a must) and working with our Cairney partners and clients. Although I always leave a place full to the brim with thoughts and ideas, I never work on the plane on the way home - that is my time to recharge the batteries, because as soon as the wheels of the plane touch down in Glasgow it’s family and work time again.
Top Tips for Traveling Overseas
Everyone has their own rituals and things they like to do while they are travelling. Here are some I’ve learned from others that work well for me:
·Although I like to travel to the airport in a bit of glam, off-camera I always change into lightweight, soft comfortable clothing.
Hydrate your body with lots of water and your skin with a great moisturiser and facial mist.
Being disconnected from Wifi for a few hours is never a bad thing for you and others. Allow yourself plenty of time to relax.
Pack your favourite treats, as you can’t always get them where you are going - fruit pastilles and wine gums are a must for me. Once you’ve eaten them, you’ll have room to bring home some local delicacies too!
What are your top tips for successful, comfortable travelling? I’d love to hear them.
I’ve got an extra-special motivation to get home in good time from my trip to Melbourne in two weeks’ time - getting back before my first grandchild is born - an unmissable moment in life!
