I’ll start with the end here: The biggest mistake people make when traveling for work is…
Over drinking.
I drink, and there is typically no shortage of alcohol at work events. To add to that, my career was in IT and sales. Nothing lubricates a conversation like alcohol. However, I did not know that before I traveled for business the first time. Perhaps I am one of the lucky ones that never made a huge work mistake while under the influence, but it is because I had mentors give me advice before I traveled.
The best pieces of advice I’ve gotten when it comes to drinking at a work event are:
- When people order their seconds, you order your first. Your first drink should be water. Afraid of someone calling you out? Repeat after me: “I’ll have water to start.”
- Never be the drunkest person at the party. Everyone remembers the person that made a fool of themselves. Don’t be that person. If you’re considering another drink, order it to your hotel room. If you don’t know when to stop, don’t start.
As one of my close friends said in his hour of regret, “Just because happy hour is free doesn’t mean there isn’t a cost.”
That’s it, friends. I could pepper you with stories from people that I know, but the point has been made. Don’t get hammered at work. That is all.
This post is one of a series of tips & tricks for business travel. For related posts, see:
I totally love this post! It’s so true since alcohol sometimes is an easy topic to talk about to fit in and make conversation. However the stories don’t ever go away if one gets caught in it. I luckily haven’t but I still hear the ones of others. Even if company policy allows for drinks while traveling on the corporate card, we have to be adults and stay classy