8 ways to motivate your employees during a business trip

Business trips can be a taxing experience for your employees.

Amidst the inconvenience and demanding schedule, you may be wondering how you can keep your team motivated. Fortunately, there are many ways any manager can positively engage their team to ensure optimal results and morale.

These are 11 of the most effective ways to motivate your employees during a business trip.

1. Be Flexible

When they’re obligated to participate in a business trip, your employees face a myriad of challenges.

They need to make alternate arrangements for personal affairs like pet sitting, community commitments, and child care. But keeping this in mind can make a huge difference.

If possible, be flexible with travel dates and ask your employees what works best for them.

2. Upgrade Their Transportation

Even if you’re trying to keep costs low, there can be immense benefits to upgrading your employees’ transportation accommodations.

Why?

There’s a significant difference between flying business class instead of coach or renting a luxury SUV instead of an economy sedan. The comfort and security reduce stress while the extra effort makes your employees feel valued.

3. Create a Considerate Schedule

It may be your first instinct to let your clients choose early meeting times or fly in the morning of a conference, but you should think carefully about demanding schedules before planning a business trip.

Your employees are likely to be exhausted from the stress of travel, changing time zones, and preparing for the work ahead.

Designate an entire day for travel, and book flights that aren’t too early or late in the day to allow your team to rest properly.

4. Choose Quality Accommodations

Spend some time researching local hotels instead of simply choosing the most economical option.

With a bit of effort and planning, you are likely to find five-star accommodations for a similar price as three-star chain hotels.

Try using a business hotel booking platform if you’re short on time: they can usually help find great deals and group rates.

5. Offer Opportunities to Lead

A business trip is a great time to allow your employees to use their strengths and shine. Because you’re out of the office and doing something new, try to think of ways to offer your team opportunities to embrace collective ownership of the project.

You might ask them to guide the flow of the meeting, design a pitch deck, or hold a planning meeting where they can share their own insights and goals.

6. Plan Team Activities

All work and no play equals zero enjoyment for your employees. It’s crucial to plan a team building activity that is pure entertainment to keep everyone motivated.

Research recreation unique to the location, considering every team member’s abilities and limitations when choosing an activity.

It doesn’t have to be an expensive outing to be meaningful: think about amusements such as guided tours, escape room challenges, and theatre performances.

It’s best to keep team-building activities free of alcohol, excessive physical activity, or restaurants unsuitable for dietary restrictions so everyone can be included.

7. Allow Personal Time

Although team recreation can be valuable and fun, your employees still need to decompress and recharge during a busy trip. They won’t be able to showcase the best version of themselves if they are overwhelmed and insufficiently rested.

Build downtime into the itinerary, allowing your team members to decide what they need or want to do. For some, that may mean sightseeing or a shopping trip, while others may opt for a midday nap.

8. Get to Know Your Employees

A change of scenery and deviation from your standard office routine can be the perfect opportunity to get to know your employees on a personal level.

In general, people feel more valued by their employer if they feel that their manager knows them and genuinely cares about their life outside of work.

It isn’t necessary to force conversations or plan one-on-one lunches. Just try to avoid talking business when you can, like during group meals. Ask tasteful questions that aren’t overly personal; stick to subject matter like hobbies, interests, pets, and travel.

Conclusion

It’s fantastic that you’re thinking about how you can treat your employees well and keep them motivated during business travel.

With these pointers, your team is sure to feel valued, supported, and that their well-being truly matters to the organization.

When you demonstrate compassion, gratitude, and belief in the strength of your employees, they are likely to remain loyal and be more effective due to your efforts to motivate them.