“Out of sight, out of mind”

During the last economic crisis in 2008, most large companies had to cut the corporate travel by a lot. What may have seemed like a smart decision at the time turned out to be quite the contrary, according to The Telegraph. Firms that maintained their business travel budget managed to keep their annual income flat and even gain new corporate deals from their competitors who had stopped travelling. 

With new technologies, it is of course much easier to stay in touch today without ever leaving the office. We can avoid the hassle airport lines and traffic jams, and achieve a better work-life balance. However, these technologies can’t replace the value of human connection. I remember having a chat at the coffee machine with a member of the management team who was telling me how much inside information he would get travelling to an event or attending a gathering – the kind of information that would never pass in an email or phone call. He added that if you are not physically present, where the action happens, often enough, your place will quickly be taken or people will tend to forget you. It reminds me of the old adage, “out of sight out of mind”.