Heading Into Year Three

This week, I went into my last of a three year term on the GBTA Board of Directors meeting.  What an interesting two years it has been.  We have been challenged, we have pushed and we have been separated and we have been together. 

What will the next few months bring?  Only time will tell.  I think the current board make up is interesting to say the least.  We have a new President who has asked all the right questions and is being resolute in her discussions.  We have a tried and true Chairwoman who is both supporting and strong.  We have a new Vice President who is motivated.  We have four new board members who are engaged.  We have two board members from Best Western Hotels.  We have an ALC President with years of experience.  Like I said, interesting. 

So, with countdown clock underway, here's to the third year. 

October

In October, I thought this was fitting!

In honor of everyone who has fought and lost, fought and won or still battling, this is for you:

Stupid Cancer!
Cancer Sucks!
The Battle is Worth It! 
Your Strength Amazes me!! 
 
In honor of everyone who has stood next to someone with cancer and helped them battle this horrific disease:

You Are Appreciated!
It is Noticed!
Your Love is Evident!

Pray for a cure to cancer! 

Are Travel Policies Effective?

I have been chatting with peers lately about this topic.  I have heard things like;
"It's totally effective because its part of our company DNA."
"I don't know if my travelers even know there is one."
"It's more of a guideline than a policy."
"There are policies for everything in our company, so we have to have one and I think I do a good job of keeping ours updated." 

When programs look to make changes to travel, their first instinct is to look at travel policy.  When people look to create a travel program, they start by creating a travel policy.  So, when and how did this question about its effectiveness come bubbling up? 

Let's look at a policy...per one of my friend's quote above, it's a guideline that says what I can, cannot, should and maybe even should not do when I am expensing travel to the company I work for.  It's a protection measure for the employee to tell them what's appropriate.  It's also a protection measure for said employee because they know what could lead to their demise within the company.  It's a document that everyone from HR and Legal can use when needed to ensure someone is not defrauding the company.  It's also a document that managers can use to help to manage their travel budgets. 

All of those are good things! 

A policy, however, does become ineffective when it's never looked at, by ANYONE.  If people don't know it exists, if people never look at it to make updates, if people never look to it to help guide their budget and planning....then it certainly has become ineffective. 

That, my friends, is not good. 

So, whether your policy is one page or 60, bring it back to life.  Review it, clean it up, and make sure people know about it.  What measures can you take to help people internally understand the importance of the document and how it can help them?  If it's not being used, then blow it up and start all over.  I consider policy the playbook.  If we don't all know the plays that will make us successful, we probably won't have a winning season.  And while life is not always about winning or losing, I prefer to win...and keep going. 

We Are a Mobile Society

The top four news stories this morning were:
1 - Flooding in South Carolina. 
2 - The El Faro cargo ship search.
3 - American Airlines pilot who died during flight.
4 - Amtrak derailment in Vermont. 

Did you notice that all of these have to do with the ability to move people and/or goods from place to place?

Flooding - Homes were lost and roads washed away. 
Cargo ship - While moving a cargo ship of goods and services, it seems as if this vessel has been lost at sea. 
American Airlines pilot - The co-pilot stepped in and with poise and professionalism, landed the plane safely.
Amtrak derailment - Train carrying passengers from Vermont to DC goes off the track with thankfully, no one losing their life. 

Being able to get from place to place is key in this society.  We can and do move millions of people and goods everyday on roads, tracks, in the air and on the sea.  The physical size of our planet hasn't changed, but our ability to transit the globe has changed and when that ability is compromised, it's news worthy.  I ask you to think about an industry that doesn't rely on mobility.  I can't think of one. 

It makes my theme of keep going so relevant.  The people in South Carolina will pick themselves up; clean up their homes and roads.  The shipping industry will not waiver in its mission because of one incident.  Millions of passengers will take to the skies today knowing that they are in good hands.  Amtrak will be back on track today, moving people from place to place.  Like me, people will keep going because that's what we do. 

Why Do Women Do This?

Sisters, I gotta go there...  We have to STOP being bitches to each other.  The other day, while at an airport, I saw three examples of this behavior and it drives me crazy!  Keep in mind, these all happened within 45 minutes.  

1- Two women in the airport bathroom were traveling together.  They were chatting up a storm while they washed their hands and fixed their hair.  A woman with three small kids came into the bathroom, and she started changing a diaper at the changing station.  The two travel companions looked at each other, one rolled her eyes and as they were leaving one said, " Poor thing looks like she could use some help."

2- I was in a long slow Starbucks line  and therefore, struck up conversation with a man in line.  We chatted about our delays and our need for something to drink.  The man then motioned to, what I assume was his wife, about their order.  She walked over toward us and I greeted her with a smile and "Good morning!" to which, she grunted and gnarled something to the man and walked away.  Let me get this outta the way, I was NOT trying to pick up her man!  

3 - A female flight attendant smiled and joked with people who were boarding.  She saw a middle aged woman, smiled and complimented her nail polish.  Two passengers later, she cut-off, without apology or smile, a young attractive woman, well put together and obviously headed out for a business trip.  She went back to joking and smiling after the young woman passed.

Does the flight attendant know she even did that?  Is it second nature to only be nice to people we don't see as competition?  If you thought the mom needed help, why not offer her some? Is it easier to pass judgement and pity than to offer support and a helping hand?  Had I started up a conversation with that woman instead of her man, would it have been more socially acceptable?  

Men don't treat each other this way.  Sure, most of time, they are less engaged so are less likely for these things to matter, but men help each other and even if they DONT help each other, they certainly don't pass judgement as easily as women.  Now, I know that might sound like a generalization and I normally don't do that, but I had to call this one out.  

So, while out there, being a part of the human race, let's vow to stop our wicked ways and try to view everyone through the same lens, no matter their look, their situation or their intent.   Oh yeah, and keep going!