CASE STUDY: Seven ways to become a better communicator

Travel managers deal with different stakeholders and types of traveller on a regular basis. Here are Nathalie Ansermoz's tips into how you can become a communicator, which she shared at the Business Travel Show Conference. More advice is also available in Business Travel iQ's interview with Nathalie, who is global category manager for travel and entertainment at Bacardi.

1. Build a stakeholder relationship within each country you operate in to keep updated globally. If there is no travel manager it could be someone from HR, a personal assistant or someone in procurement.
2. Think about the method you use to communicate. Bacardi has its own travel platform through its intranet where policy, contracts, best practice and booking all sits. An audience member pushed its updates through a newsletter and said interviews within this are well-read.
3. Email carefully. People can easily delete them and if you send too many, they will switch off.
4. Think about who the messages come from. Will they have more clout if it comes from a board member or senior management?
5. Work around perceptions and any disruptors. Manage opinions and stop them escalating, especially those that could spread a bad or wrong impression. If they are convinced to think differently they will speak more positively to other colleagues.
6. Engage newcomers at the earliest time. An example was raised during the session that said a short newcomer leaflet had been successful, but it was important it was short and snappy.
7. Most importantly, listen.