Business Travel Executive, November 2019

46 Business Travel Executive askBTE com November 2019 TT AND ANOTHER THING Take a minute to celebrate your wins big and small It can be the gift that keeps on giving I t is that time of the year when you look back and think Wow I feel like I accomplished so much this year and yet at the same time like Ive done nothing at all As a travel buyer we wear so many hats and juggle so many projects that even when we are highly successful at something we tend to just see the next thing coming We dont take the time to celebrate our successes as much as we should In the last nine months I decided to truly focus on the small successes that are achieved within my travel program and really celebrate the amazing things that my department does to transform the lives of our travelers For the small things like my staff handling departmental changes with grace and optimism I celebrate them Whether it is a small thank you note or a shout out to the whole department it is important for me to let them know that their hard work and positive attitudes make all the difference not only to our department but to our travelers For larger successful projects I ensure that we celebrate together as a group acknowledging that without each other we would not have been as successful as we are Sometimes its just a luncheon in the office sometimes drinks on me But I vow never to let them forget that they contributed in a highly valuable way to the project It sounds so simple but it takes effort and it takes focus to ensure that we dont just get wrapped up in the task to accomplish or project to finish So I encourage all leaders to take the time and celebrate the successes of your managed travel program I see a lot of people and organizations using 2020 as a theme for this coming year implying theyre going to have perfect vision To that I would say this next year shouldnt be about having the perfect vision but having better focus Whether that focus is on your programs success or the travelers you serve creating a focused strategy for 2020 is so important It helps keep us all on track Now its easy to get mesmerized by the bright shiny objects or distracted by the squirrels in our path during the work day So in order for me to stay focused I spend the first hour of my work day completely disconnected no e mail no phone no texts no meetings I block my calendar and to the best of my ability I spend that time focused on my overall program strategy and what needs to be accomplished I admit some days it is just 30 minutes because well the boss is calling But in general that quiet time lets me focus on what I need to accomplish within my program and what I need to do to accomplish them Even if you start with focused time just a couple days a week every bit counts Aligning your strategy and celebrating your accomplishments can be huge for you personally for your team your company and your travelers It is just two seemingly small things that make a huge difference The year end is upon us so I wish you the Happiest of Holidays and hope that you give yourself a couple simple gifts to celebrate your managed travel program and the awesome travel buyer that you are n Jennifer Steinke Give Yourself a Hand