Forgoing Trips Means Missing Opportunities

A friend of mine has been asked to travel to Europe this spring on business. Her company has overseas offices and wants her to learn more about those operations.

Sounds incredible. But, like a lot of women, my friend is hesitant to leave her family and office for 10 days.

Although most men don’t think anything of going out of town, women often avoid being away from home.

Perhaps it’s because men just go, but women spend weeks organizing before their departure and weeks catching up after their return.

No doubt, there are times that family and office responsibilities make it impossible to go. But women must stop procrastinating and start packing.

Studies show many managers avoid asking women to take out-of-town trips because they expect them to say no. As a result, we’re missing opportunities for learning and advancement.

An out-of-town trip may even be good for your family.

Like most men, my husband doesn’t think much about a day in Chicago, a weekend in New Orleans or five days in Washington. He tries to give me as much notice as possible, but it’s work-related so he’s got to go, right?

I, on the other hand, try to pack too much into a day or two so that I won’t be gone long enough to notice. Well, I recently went out of town for four days and the experience was liberating.

I admit, I was insane before leaving. Despite a 6:59 a.m. flight, I stayed up long after midnight to fold and put away every piece of laundry. I also stocked the house with groceries, even though my husband’s the one who taught me to cook, and my kids would rather eat take-out pizza than anything homemade.

When my husband travels, he leaves me a copy of the travel agent’s itinerary. I left him detailed notes about school activities, homework and flight schedules.

No doubt it was a hectic week. Scones had to be baked for a second grade tea, a car assembled for the Pinewood Derby and skits practiced for the school talent show.

But there were no trips to the orthodontist, no waiting in line at the grocery store and no driving to ballet, thanks to a friend who drove both ways.

Sure, some things didn’t go as scheduled - like bath time and spelling practice. But my family managed, and I got to be the one to bring back the neat out-of-town gifts that they usually get from my husband.

And, for a day or two, my family really appreciated me. My daughter even suggested that my husband take the next trip “because we’re used to you going away, and Mom knows how everything works.”

Migrant workers

Men move, women stay put.

We’re not talking about job advancement. We’re talking about job-hopping. A new federal Bureau of Labor Statistics report says men have been changing jobs more frequently in recent years but women have generally defied the widely held belief that the American work force has become increasingly mobile.

Cubicle etiquette

If you’ve gone from an office to a cubicle because your office has been redesigned, relocated or downsized, here is an important pointer on cubicle etiquette.

Remember that although it doesn’t look like one, a cubicle is meant to be an office. Shouting over the partitions, even when answering a colleague, is rude, Investor’s Business Daily says.

Treat the cubicle opening as a door. Instead of barging in on someone in another cubicle, send e-mail or phone first so you’ll know if they have visitors or can talk.

fusubhedJane of all trades You’re better off knowing a little about a lot than a lot about a little.

That’s according to the Challenger, Gray & Christmas consulting firm, which says when companies hire permanent employees these days, many are looking for generalists who can do a variety of jobs and who are comfortable with technology.

Current employees with limited skills - even if they’re good workers - will be the most vulnerable if there are future layoffs.

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