Relationship-building goes way beyond just quarterly meetings. Real connection happens in the small moments, shared experiences and simply showing up, whether that’s in person, in someone’s feed or their inbox.
Out-of-office time, when handled as another connection point, reinforces your role as an engaged and human advisor. It invites those you serve as well as prospects along for the ride. You don’t have to be in the office to make an impact. In fact, some of the most powerful touchpoints can happen when you step away.
The best part? A few intentional moves can go a long way. A candid airport photo, a quick conference insight or a thoughtful out-of-office reply often outperform more polished posts.
Authentic updates, a view into your world, can cut through the noise and set you apart. Your time away from the office doesn’t have to be a gap in engagement and can be used to deepen connection. How you show up in those moments can leave the biggest impression.
Here are four tips to leverage your travels for connection and growth.
1. Use your out-of-office email message strategically.
That default auto-reply? It’s a missed opportunity.
Instead of simply stating when you will be back, use your out-of-office email as a touchpoint. Include where you are and why you’re away, especially if you’re attending an industry event. For example, here’s an out-of-office reply I used when at a recent conference:
Thank you for your message. I am out of the office and fully immersed in JOY at Snappy Kraken's Jolt! Conference where we will be learning alongside some of the most thoughtful, human-first creative advisors in the profession. Denise and I will be exploring new ways to connect, create, and serve.
One of the highlights?
I will be taking the main stage to share the Power of Leading with JOY.
You can catch some real-time updates and behind-the-scenes moments by following me on LinkedIn, X, or Facebook.
I look forward to connecting when I return to the office on Thursday, July 12th.
If your matter requires attention before that, please reach out to [insert team member’s email].
enJOY your day ☀️
Pro tip: In your auto-response, hyperlink the social media accounts you will be posting content to; this encourages interaction and can help build your digital footprint. For me, this has resulted in prospects I had not been connected to on social media commenting on my posts and connecting.
2. Share visual updates on social media.
Posts from airports, conferences and business travel consistently generate strong engagement across platforms like LinkedIn. While these may feel “casual,” they reinforce three key messages:
- You’re active in the industry
- You’re investing in continuous improvement
- You’re human
3. Maximize conference visibility.
Conferences provide rich content opportunities, before, during and after the event.
Before the event: Share your excitement about attending. Mention what you’re hoping to learn or who you are looking forward to hearing from. Tag the event and speakers, using the official hashtag. If you’re a speaker, make sure to ask the conference team for a branded image you can use to promote your panel.
During the event: Post insights, a quote from a speaker, a powerful takeaway or even a behind-the-scenes look at how you’re gearing up to learn. Bonus points if your pen or notebook has your firm’s branding on it. Tagging speakers and fellow attendees often leads to reshared content and new connections.
After the event: Write a thoughtful recap. Include what you gained, what you’re bringing back to your practice and tag those you enjoyed spending time with. These wrap-up posts signal professionalism, growth and community. This part can be made easier if you reference what you wrote before and during the event, as it gives you a great starting point for your wrap-up.
Pro tip: Pre-write a few posts and save them in your phone. It makes it easier to share in the moment without breaking your flow.
4. For personal travel, strike the right tone.
Vacations should be respected for what they are: time off.
A simple, well-timed post at the start of your trip, especially one that thanks your team and clients for supporting balance, can resonate more than you might expect.
Those you serve are likely to respond positively to these posts. Beyond allowing them to connect with you on a deep level, you are practicing the same financial and lifestyle principles that you advocate for. It reminds them in a real way of your humanity.
For example, I recently went on a trip to the Caribbean with my family. I pre-wrote a post and shared it on LinkedIn with an airplane photo. A few minutes after it was posted, I received a message from an acquaintance whom I haven’t heard from in years, offering a couple of suggestions for the island. That’s just one example of how these posts can create community and engagement.
Lawrence Sprung, CFP, is the founder of Mitlin Financial, a Long Island-based financial planning firm.
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