Lately, traveling for work has been almost a full-time job.

On a recent trip to Southeast Asia, I visited four countries in four days — Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines — before flying straight home. Then, there was a whirlwind tour of Sweden, Germany and Holland that saw my morning run in Stockholm, lunch in Lübeck and dinner in Eindhoven.

As chief of staff with a global tech company, I'm on the road for work two or three weeks a month. While that may be extreme, now that Covid is in the rearview, business travel is back with a vengeance. Worldwide, companies are on track to spend a record $1.48 trillion on it this year — up more than 10% from 2023.

For business leaders, travel comes with the territory. Just ask JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon, who thinks it's essential for anyone who doesn't want to fail. The typical CEO spends only about half their working hours at company headquarters, devoting the rest to tasks that include travel.

It's crucial to make every trip count. Here's how a leader can get the most ROI on travel time.

Related: 5 Business Travel Tips for CEOs

The foundation of every successful business trip? Meticulous planning and managing your time and energy. An hour on the road is worth much more than an ordinary hour in the office. For a leader, that means keeping even closer tabs on how your time is used.

A great executive assistant can be a lifesaver here, but there are basic steps anyone can take. Rearrange your schedule, skipping any routine meetings back home so you can be present at your destination. Figure out what absolutely needs to be accomplished in person, and prioritize. For example, meeting face-to-face with a key customer would be at the top of the list.........

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