What to Do Before You Leave

Before embarking on a business trip, there are lots of important preparations to make. Every trip will have different preparations, but there are some common steps you should always take care of.

• Keep your materials organized in one location. You don’t want to have your plane ticket in your desk, your luggage at home, and your necessary papers at the downtown office. Get all the materials necessary for your trip in one place ahead of time so you can be sure you won’t forget anything vital.
  
  
• Catch up on your schedule. Pay upcoming bills early, finish up the paperwork you’ve been putting off, and do anything else that should be finished by the time you get back. You probably won’t get a chance to do it on the road, and you definitely don’t want to miss a house payment because you were at an industry show. Take care of things lined up for a day or two after you expect to return in case of delays.
  
  
• Leave contact information. Even if you don’t want to be disturbed while you’re gone, someone back home should be able to get in touch with you. Let them know what flight you’re taking, where you’re staying, phone numbers you’ll be accessible at, and similar pertinent information. Maintaining a link back home is crucial, especially in case of emergencies.
  
  
• Budget plenty of time. Get to the airport early, leave early if you’re driving, just do everything early. It’s much better to show up hours ahead than hours behind, after all, and punctuality is a trait your colleagues and customers admire. By that same token, plan to arrive home again later than you intend. That way no one is likely to be counting on you for anything when you return, so you’re less likely to disappoint anyone.

Following these guidelines ensures that the trip itself goes smoothly and will help avoid complications, saving you a lot of stress and headaches. Time spent on preparation is rarely wasted. These preparations lay the groundwork for a smooth return home as well, as you will see in the next guide.