5 productivity lessons from my life as a business traveller

I am on another flight, in another seat, on a different airline, sitting next to a mix cultures, generations and assorted folk with assorted purposes. One thing, however, is a constant after my near 15 years of constant business travel. My laptop is open, I am working, I am listening to music to drown out the crying parents and screaming kids (usually interchangeable) and, yet, I am focused. I get a lot of work done up here at around 14,000 metres. I also get a lot done in the hotels I stay at, the airport terminals I find myself in and various other locations where I can connect with my devices or take out my laptop and get some real work done. Funnily enough I am at my most productive out and about. It’s a state of mind – a can-do attitude and it most certainly impacted how I have developed myself as a Professional and as a Leader. It’s not always been the case, with tough lessons learned on the way. Here are the top 5 pointers that have helped me stay productive, wherever I am:

Start with a clear purpose, every day
When I am travelling, I know I have an hour here and there, a few hours flying, 30 minutes in a hotel reception. It focuses the mind. I can filter the distractions and do I what need to do.
Learn to filter out the noise
It’s noisy on a plane, in a terminal, on a train, at a hotel reception area etc – Add to this the multiple demands and items on your list and it all adds up to a lot of noise. In these situations we have to be focused on doing what we need to do, rather than what we want to do.
Time for your business, yourself, your team, your family
Getting points 1 and 2 right help manage this point. The curse of the business traveller can be the “always on” switch. Days blend into nights and into a mind-set of how perfect the time is to get work done – its dead time after all. True – to a point. But no one is good to anyone burned out. Leave time for the other important things:
i) Instead of planes and hotels in faceless cities, I now ensure I engage better with my surroundings – it’s good for the heart and the head.
ii) My team need time to talk, seek input and share. It is easier now than ever to stay connected and Skype + Go-To-Meeting are my best friends for staying in touch.
iii) I spend more quality time with my family than I ever did. The pressures are still the same, it is just that I have learned with experience, feedback and practice to manage myself and my time differently.
Attitude is everything
As a business traveller in these ultra connected times I know I can find space, do what I need and get to the important things. This helps me define my purpose, eliminate distractions and engage my positive productivity mind-set.
Everyone needs help – It was scary to be found wanting a few years ago and I realised that it didn’t matter how ‘senior’ I had become, I needed some coaching and advice. I wholeheartedly entered into it. This approach helped me balance socially & emotionally, commercially & operationally. Not necessarily in that order! I couldn’t recommend it more to Leaders and Managers at any level. It has made a profound difference to me. Never be too proud to ask for feedback or help – you never know what benefits it can bring, particularly in terms of personal productivity and, perhaps, the positive knock-on effect to the productivity of your team.