One part of business that can’t be denied is last minute meetings. While we all wish we could be notified when there is a meeting taking place, sometimes these meetings have to be attended at a moment’s notice and it is a good idea to have a few guidelines in place so that you don’t get frazzled when this happens.
First of all, find out exactly what the meeting is about so that you can be fully prepared. While you may not have time to have all of your ducks in a row, you can at least get the basics together and have a clue on what is going to be discussed.
Always have your travel bag ready so that you don’t have to worry about packing at the last minute. Obviously if there are things in your travel bag you use on a daily basis you can’t include them but why not have extras available? If you need contact lens solution or razors, have extras in your bag so it’s pretty much ready to go at a moment’s notice.
Check to see if you can have the meeting by phone or teleconference. Costs can be high to arrange a last minute meeting so sometimes it can be just as beneficial to do it remotely and save money at the same time. You can’t always suggest this to everyone but if you know the company well it can’t hurt to ask if you feel comfortable doing so.
Last but not least, don’t panic. This probably isn’t your first last minute meeting and it won’t be the last so just go with the flow and know that it’ll be over with soon so you can get back to your life. You’ll enjoy the trip much better if you have a positive outlook. If you approach it with anger or indignation you’ll only make your trip more miserable and may actually hinder any good outcome.