⚡ Get All Content for 20% Off ⚡

5 Ways to Make the Most of Traveling With Your Boss Be on the road with the boss means you're going places in the company, if you keep up the momentum.

By John Boitnott

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Westend61 | Getty Images

An employee seldom has to worry about interacting with the boss outside the office. Most often, if you travel, you're doing it alone. If you do travel together, it's probably just to nearby meetings in the same car. However, for some professionals, work trips mean days of quality time with the very person they want to impress most.

As stressful as such trips can be, though, they also provide a helpful career opportunity. When professionals travel together, they spend hours in each other's company, sharing meals, waiting in airports or enduring long trips by car. As a result, employees usually find that they can gain an advantage, getting to know their bosses in a way they wouldn't have in the office.

If you're facing an upcoming business trip with your boss, it's important to make the most of the situation. Here are a few things you should do while you're on the road.

1. Bring your 'A Game'

Whether you've worked with your boss for a week or a decade, a business trip provides an opportunity to make a good impression. Unlike the day-to-day work you do in a regular workweek, a trip let's you showcase your skills to your boss. Before the trip, prepare an itinerary and make sure you have all the documents you need for any presentation or meeting. Keep everything organized in a sharable service like Google Docs and make sure your boss can easily access it at all times.

Related: 21 Silicon Valley Women Who Are More Qualified to Be on Your Board Than Mark Cuban

2. Moderate alcohol consumption

Alcohol consumption is an inevitable part of any business trip. Even if your boss isn't a drinker, you may find that clients order a drink, putting pressure on you and your boss to fit in. In this area, try to take your boss's lead. If your boss seems okay with drinking, order one drink and nurse it over the course of the evening to avoid overconsumption. Maybe order a second if your boss has as well. By stretching your drinking out over an hour or more, you'll avoid the clouded thinking that comes with intoxication.

Related: 15 Rules for Talking Business Over Drinks

Maximize Downtime

When you're waiting for a flight to board, seated on a plane, or hanging out in the hotel lobby until your boss arrives, resist the temptation to take care of personal business. Use the opportunity to get a little more work done, review your itinerary for the day, or respond to work-related email. If your boss sees you're fully dedicated to the work you're doing, he or she may think of you first when it's time for a promotion. If you have an important meeting the next day, do your best to prepare during your downtime the night before so that you show up ready to get started.

Related: A Quick Guide to Email Etiquette (Infographic)

Keep it professional

As with any travel companion, your boss will be your primary source of conversation during the trip. Over time, it's natural to let down your guard and become more open. Even if the trip makes it temporarily seem as though your boss is your peer, it's important to never lose sight of the fact that you're speaking to your hierarchial superior. Avoid gossiping about coworkers, inappropriate personal discussion or anything that could lead your boss to see you in a lesser light.

Related: 8 Stupid Office Rules That Drive Everyone Crazy

Pack reasonably

It can be difficult to pack for a business trip, especially when your boss is traveling with you. Keep your luggage to a minimum by mastering the art of packing like a seasoned business traveler. Bring clothes you can wear more than once, mixing and matching to make your outfit look similar, but still different than it did the day before. Make sure you have clothes to cover every planned meeting, as well as a surprise event or two that might require professional attire.

Traveling with a boss can be daunting, but with careful preparation, you can make it a success. You may later find that the business trip you took made a big difference in the trajectory of your career. Although these trips may feel like even the slightest mistake could hurt you, chances are your boss won't notice a few small slip-ups, as long as you demonstrate how dedicated you are to the work you do.

John Boitnott

Entrepreneur Leadership Network® VIP

Journalist, Digital Media Consultant and Investor

John Boitnott is a longtime digital media consultant and journalist living in San Francisco. He's written for Venturebeat, USA Today and FastCompany.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Remote Side Hustle a 43-Year-Old Musician Works on for 1 Hour a Day Earns Nearly $3,000 a Month: 'All From the Comfort of Home'

Sam Ziegler wanted to supplement his income as a professional drummer — then his tech skills and desire to help people came together.

Business News

Costco CFO Reveals Uncertain Fate of $1.50 Hot Dog and Soda Combo

CFO Richard Galanti reveals that the price will stay the same — but only "for a while."

Business News

The Most Unexpectedly Popular Side Hustle of the Decade Has Low Startup Costs and High Markups

A new report shows that vending machines are a popular investment — and the industry is set to grow up to $3 billion by 2031.

Marketing

Ever Wonder Why Certain Websites Rank Higher Than Yours? This SEO Expert Reveals The Secret to Dominating Search Results

It's often the smart use of SEO, now supercharged with AI, particularly in keyword optimization.

Business News

AI Is Impacting Jobs. Here Are the Gigs Affected the Most, According to an Analysis of 5 Million Upwork Postings

The researcher said in the report that freelance jobs were analyzed first because that market will likely see AI's immediate impact.

Leadership

Former Interrogator Shares 5 Behaviors Liars Exhibit and How to Handle Them

Five deceptive behaviors to look for and how to respond to those behaviors when you encounter them.