Trainers fall into two broad categories – the homesteader and road warrior.
While the homesteader trains in the same building or classroom most of the time, the road warrior travels often. Each category has its special challenges, but having just returned from a couple of back-to-back trips, I would like to share some tips that I’ve found useful when in the road warrior mode.
- Arrival Day. Langevin Learning Services is very gracious to its instructors in that we invariably travel the day before the training usually arriving in time for an evening setup of the training facility. As setup takes about two hours, completing it the day before allows for a more relaxed and efficient start to the workshop.
- Departure time. As a West Coast person, when traveling east, an early departure (e.g. 6 a.m.) helps me beat rush hour traffic and gives me a head start on the time zone change. It also builds in travel buffer time for delays and almost insures that I’ll sleep that evening – if not on the airplane.
- Trip to airport. A shuttle service is great as it allows relaxation time instead of traffic hassle time and eliminates parking fees. Again, if you’re tired enough, it allows nap time.
- Airport. Even though I know how long it takes to get through the airport check in at SFO and United Airlines, I allow ample buffer time. Better to have a meal at the airport or read the paper than spend an hour worrying about making the flight.
- Baggage. Check as much as possible. I usually travel with two bags and an AV bag. The overhead compartments are usually full. A planeside baggage check is a pain and losing foot room to a bag stowed under the seat for five hours is no fun. Encourage your IT department to move to netbooks – versus the larger notebooks – and the smaller multimedia projectors – if possible.
- Meals. Newsflash! Eating is important. I find that I can’t always depend on buy-on-board meals, so I’ll take a sandwich with me. Out of courtesy to my seat mates, I avoid the tuna fish and onion meals. When training, I don’t have much of an appetite, but I make a point of trying to have healthy meals and an occasional really nice meal on the road as a reward. I love to try the regional specialties when they are not available at home.
- Jet set on a shoestring. While travel may be viewed as a punishment, it can also be an adventure. Make a point of seeing some of the local sites. Get a feel for the area. If you vacationed at some of the sites you train at, it would cost a bundle.
- Sleep. Whatever your personal strategy is for coping for time zone changes, use it. Exercise, a nice meal – whatever works for you. You want to be your best in the classroom and it’s hard to do that on a few hours sleep. Watch excessive caffeine.
Using these tips helps me stay on top of my game whenever I’m in road warrior mode. Hopefully they’ll help you, too. And here are some more great tips on how to strike a balance as a traveling trainer. I’d love to hear any additional tips you’ve found helpful.
Paul
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