Scheduling Clients While Traveling with Family
As part of my getting loose ends in order before we take off, I am currently speaking with my clients about our schedule while I’m gone. Currently, my clients (90% of whom I meet by phone) are scattered around the week mostly during typical work hours but one in the evening. They are geographically scattered around the United States and one is in Australia.
Amsterdam is 7 hours ahead of US central time. My goal is to concentrate my clients into blocks hopefully not to exceed 2-3 days of the week and speak to them in the late afternoon/early evening Amsterdam time. This will require them to speak with me in the morning of their time.
Most of my coaching clients are established and have been with me at least a year. So far, the feedback I am receiving is positive and they are happy to be flexible. My Australian client may be more difficult. She is a high level executive who wants to speak from home. The problem is this puts her into early daytime hours for Amsterdam which could interrupt activities with family. However, if needed, I will just plan not to go out with my family on those days.
It is always difficult to balance work and family during the summer when the children are home. Traveling will be no different. My hope is that the stimulation of being in new places and doing new things during my free days will help prevent the "Mommy I’m bored" syndrome that we were definitely in last summer.
The hardest part for me will be remembering the time zone factor and to be on the phone at the correct hour. My desktop timezone clock will help. I will look into setting alarms on it.
