“You’re taking off work to travel? How is that supposed to help you in your career?”
Your coworkers or boss might scratch their heads in confusion when you state that your latest trip can help you grow professionally, but rest assured, it will.
Travel can be used as an escape from professionalism, but it can also be a fantastic way to help you grow and succeed in your career.
I know what you’re thinking; the last thing you want to do is “work on yourself” and “grow professionally” while trying to decompress during your vacation. However, while travel can be a way to explore destinations and immerse yourself in new cultures, it can also have a profound impact on your life as a professional.
Here are three ways travel can help you in your profession:
1. Experiencing New Cultures and New Ways of Living
One of the most valuable skills you can learn in today’s society is experiencing new cultures and new ways of living.
Traveling exposes you to different traditions and perspectives as well as allows you to broaden your understanding of other people and our world as a whole.
Sometimes, we are so used to “the way we do things” that we forget that there are other people, experiences, situations, and environments out in the world that we have yet to learn. By interacting with contrasting people from different backgrounds and navigating unfamiliar situations, you can learn the skills highly sought after by employers, especially in multilingual corporations or international industries.
Everyone wants to work with someone who has empathy and understanding, and what better way to harness these emotions than by seeing and accepting other ways of life?
2. Building Relationships and Connections
How many times have you been asked during an interview if you have experience working as a team and building relationships with clients and coworkers? Travel can help with that.
While traveling, you have the opportunity to engage, network, and build relationships with people from all walks of life.
By engaging with others during your travel experiences, you can build connections that could open doors to potential opportunities in your future. You may come across potential clients, mentors, or even just a new friend who can connect you to a new purpose or opportunity. You truly never know who you might meet on a train, in a hostel lobby, or during an excursion.
3. Curate Problem-Solving Skills
Let’s be honest; rarely do things ever go according to plan during a trip or a vacation.
Unforeseen challenges and hurdles can come at any point while traveling and developing problem-solving and quick decision-making skills can assist in the long run when you are working a career with ebbs and flows.
Employers are always searching for workers who can think on their feet, stay calm during a challenge, and make strategic decisions under pressure. Traveling can literally put you in life-or-death situations, and it’s important to learn these skills not only to help you during traveling but to help you during work obstacles as well.
Being adaptable, resourceful, forward-thinking, and creative is essential when it comes to traveling and working professionally.
Traveling can be more than just an activity to get out of town and relax. It can contribute immensely to your professional growth and success and provide new ways of thinking, learning, and working that can benefit you in the long run. Traveling equips you with valuable traits that are highly sought after in the modern-day workplace.
So, book that trip, show your boss this blog, and get ready to learn how travel can enhance your professional journey…sometimes without you even knowing it!
The world is your classroom, and it’s important to use traveling to help you not only let off some steam but also to continue your education in this ever-changing world.
Ready to travel? Let’s chat! I’m happy to help you devise a travel plan that works for you!
Recent Comments