Greetings Mobile Business Owners:

I recently came across an article on business travel etiquette, which I felt was so good, that it was well worth sharing. It will be printed here in its entirety, with the author’s full byline and links intact. However, getting to the article, a few thoughts of my own (in no particular order…) :

MobileBusinessOwners.com Airline Etiquette Suggestions

Monitor your headphones. Yes, headphones can be MUCH louder than you think they are. What seems like a blissful “noise cancelled” experience for you, can be mildly irritating or downright angering to your neighbors. Headphones alone do not make one a considerate listener. On one flight recently from Los Angeles to Seattle, the person behind me had headphones so loud, that it seemed be vibrating the seat. Don’t be that person.
No one else around you is as interested in your call, your line of work, or who did what with what document as you are. Let’s face it, we all have mobile business to conduct. The trick is to have it conducted, without becoming a “noiseitizen” of the airways. I like to use a good old-fashioned corded headset with a microphone. This allows the microphone to be comfortably near my mouth, while keeping the audio in my ears only. Better call quality for me, and a blissful interruption-free experience for my fellow passengers
Help your neighbors place their bags in the overhead compartments. I can think of few ways to better represent a budding (or thriving) mobile business than by lending a helping hand. Not only is it a nice thing to do for the person with the bags, but it helps improve the experience of all those around you by getting people seated quickly.
If you bring your children along, be sure to hold them to the same standards of conduct. There is a common misconception among many family travelers that other travelers sharing the airplane find their children as cute and amusing as they do. They don’t. Bring plenty of noise-free amusements for your children so the business travelers can continue getting business done.
It’s not impolite to “tune out” or keep to yourself and sleep during airline travel. You are a business owner, traveling here and there, meetings all the time, countless juggled priorities, family life to manage, etc. In other words, you can be exhausted when getting on a plane (many people are these days.) It is very difficult for polite and professional business owners to turn down conversation attempts from adjacent passengers. Keep in mind that this is a personal preference. Some people want to connect and chat on the flight, others may not. Still others may only want to chat briefly, and go back to work/sleeping/listening to music, etc. We’re all different, and that’s ok too. A few years ago, I read a study somewhere that said some extremely tiny percentage of business card exchanges on airplanes ever resulted in a business relationship. Put another way, irrespective of how great the conversation or exchange of business cards may be with your new found airplane friend, the chances of that materializing in to anything are slim and none. The second that plane door opens, you will go your respective ways. Now, I’m not saying that you cannot or should not make these contacts on the plane, my only point is that you should not feel any obligation to do so. There is no business networking contact penalty for spending your flight time working on your own business.

Leaving On A Jet Plane? Business Etiquette To Go

By Lydia Ramsey

Business travel is often a necessity whether you work for a Fortune 500 company or own a small home based business. Only so much business can be conducted by telephone, e-mail, computer and fax. There will come a day when you need to travel for business and how you conduct yourself will make all the difference in determining your success in getting that new client or sealing the deal.

Always remember that you are representing your company during your entire journey, starting and ending with your trip to and from the airport. Be considerate to airline personnel, hotel porters, restaurant employees and anyone else you meet on your trip. You never know when someone you meet may be related to the CEO of your client company or when someone you treat badly makes a formal complaint to your employer. Stay on your best behavior when you are traveling and you will build relationships that can impact the bottom line. As a bonus you will enjoy your trip a lot more when you treat others with courtesy and kindness.

After your travel reservations are made do some research. Start by studying the customs and culture of your destination if you are visiting a foreign country or by reading an online newspaper from the US city where you will be staying. Use the internet to select a restaurant for wining and dining your client, and make reservations ahead of time. Refresh your memory on the basics of introductions, table manners and gift giving before you leave home.

If you are traveling with someone else, ask that you be seated next to your business associates on the airplane. Sitting together will ensure you keep your conversations confidential and other passengers will appreciate not having to listen to you talk across an aisle or over the seat. Avoid alcohol on the airplane and during your entire trip. Traveling is not an excuse to indulge in alcoholic beverages and your boss will not appreciate being billed for your overindulgence or hearing about your wild antics on the plane.

Prior to traveling familiarize yourself with the gift giving etiquette of the company you are visiting. Be aware that many corporations and government offices have strict rules about accepting gifts. Call the company receptionist or the secretary of the person you will meet with on your trip to inquire about the company guidelines and ask for suggestions if a gift is appropriate.

Use technology sparingly in order to show respect for those around you. Make use of earphones with your laptop or hand held gadgets. Turn your cell phone off while flying and when attending a meeting. If you do have to take a call, let others know ahead of time and leave the meeting when the call comes in.

Be punctual for all of your meetings and dress professionally. Leave your casual clothes for evenings and weekends when you won’t be spending time with your client. Plan on keeping yourself occupied on off hours and do not expect your client to entertain you. If you are invited to a casual meal or other activity on off hours, feel free to accept but pay attention to your attire. Even if your host suggests that you dress casually, keep in mind that you are still doing business and make sure you keep the “business” in “business casual.”

Refrain from discussing inappropriate issues while traveling such as religion, politics and your latest surgery. Respond respectfully when asked your opinion on sticky subjects then move on quickly to another topic. If anyone, including a client, begins to bash Americans, do not take offense. Tell them you understand how they might feel that way and change the subject. Client meetings are no place to advance your personal causes or opinions.

When you return to your office, send a handwritten thank you note immediately. Let your client know how much you appreciate their hospitality and how much you enjoyed your trip. A handwritten note is much more personal than a hastily sent e-mail.

Paying careful attention to your business etiquette while traveling may help you achieve that promotion you have wanted, seal that deal you have been working on for months or enhance the otherwise lukewarm client relationship. You may not have control over your travel schedule, where your luggage ends up or the clients you need to meet, but you do have total control of your own behavior and your personal attitude By minding your business manners your trip will be pleasant, productive and profitable.

Reprint rights granted so long as article and by-line are published intact and with all links made live.

Lydia Ramsey is a business etiquette expert, professional speaker, corporate trainer and author. Learn from Lydia by using her four LIVE business etiquette broadcasts on DVD or by reading her newest book “Lydia Ramsey’s Little Book of Table Manners”. You can purchase these business etiquette tools at http://www.mannersthatsell.com/tms/index.html.

Thanks for reading!

All the best,

Corbin Links, and MobileBusinessOwners.com