Increasing Influence Within Your Company’s Leadership in 2022 and Beyond – An Executive’s Perspective
By Sam Hilgendorf, CIO for Fox World Travel
In early 2020, travel programs and traveler safety were in the spotlight. It was essential for executive teams to understand the immediate financial impact of the pandemic while balancing the health and safety risk of travelers when corporate travel started to resume. These challenges pushed travel managers to the forefront, gaining greater visibility from company leaders. There’s now an ongoing opportunity for travel managers to leverage this visibility and grow travel management’s influence within their organizations.
Here are three approaches to increasing credibility and influence within your organization:
Do not be afraid to talk about the tough stuff
Travel in current times is complex and ever-changing. Do not shy away from honestly addressing the uncertainties or potential challenges you face, as it will help set everyone’s expectations. When dealing with complex and dynamic circumstances, transparency is essential to building strong, trusting relationships with company leaders. Many travel managers approach their role as advocates for those traveling employees to make the process as easy and painless as possible.
Read more: Providing flexibility can increase morale and productivity
Demonstrate your alignment with company values
Corporate values are the bedrock of an organization’s culture and how employees should make decisions to achieve the goals and vision of the company as a whole. These values include everything from adding value to individual roles to ensuring the health and happiness of their employees. Being able to align company values with how you spend your time demonstrates dedication to the overall success of the company and provides solid examples to talk about the value your work brings to the organization. Company values also provide accountability for the choices and actions you take. By looking at the challenges you face in your role through the lens of your company’s values, you demonstrate your alignment to the greater good of the organization.
Read more: Evaluating the needs of your travel management program
Understand what is important
It seems obvious, but the fastest way to get people talking is by continuing to meet and exceed expectations. Leverage the increased awareness and interest of travel management to understand what executive leadership wants to achieve with the company’s travel program. It is a great time to engage stakeholders and ensure your travel program is at peak performance.
Read more: Using technology to enhance the traveler experience
Our Fox’s business travel experts can help you find ways to ensure an efficient experience for your business travelers while elevating your travel program.
