Loose Lips - MY TOP Ten Must DON’TS When Travelling
On Thursday this week a travelling friend remarked on iMessage about “Businessmen chat at airports”- he was sitting in an airline lounge somewhere in Italy and was being treated to the usual spectacle of loud and obnoxious corporate chatter - he made the observation that there is “Always one bolshy alpha, with a subservient colleague” - sure it can be fun to observe but it got me thinking about confidentiality in general.
Not a day goes by when there is not some warning about digital security (Jeff Bezos and his WhatsApp alleged download from Saudi Princes being the latest) but in many respects it’s the more mundane and analogue behaviours that open us up to confidentiality breaches.
I’ll share one that happened to me. An American woman was sitting directly across from me in an airline lounge. She had sat down after me. She conducted an extremely detailed and commercially sensitive conversation about C-Suite personnel changes of a quoted company (she was a non-exec of that company). This was a Friday and the changes were happening on Monday. If I was sufficiently motivated I could have traded on the information.
I wrestled a bit about her behaviour and then, when it was time for me to leave, I very politely said I had heard every word and that she should be more careful. I then left quickly.However, despite it being a 747 it was a bus / coaching stand and the woman was on my flight. Now she had reflected on what I had said she approached me on the bus and thanked me.
Just after takeoff a flight attendant asked if I would like white or red wine from the “lady up front”. So no harm done - sometimes good deeds DO go unpunished.
So here are MY TOP TEN DON’Ts when travelling.
1 - Avoid The ‘Inner Sanctum Trap’
The inherent contradiction in travel is the more rarefied your environment the more risky an open conversation can be. A sensitive conversation in the hustle and bustle of the general terminal will be ignored. A whispered conversation in a first class lounge will be within ear shot of people who MIGHT be interested. Don’t let your guard down.
2 - Never Use Full Names
Or, even better, avoid names altogether. Your travel companion or person on the other end of the ‘phone will know who or what you mean.
3 - Always Look Around And Behind You
It’s important to understand your environment so always look around and especially behind AND be conscious that when you are deep in conversation someone new can easily sit close by without you noticing.
4 - Never Trash Colleagues Or Competitors
You shouldn’t do this anyway. It’s never a good look.
5 - Never Have Luggage Tag Details Visible
If you are having an interesting conversation it can be hard for the person who shouldn’t be listening (but is !) to fill in the gaps. If they get your full name from your luggage tag Google will fill in those gaps.
6 - Never Discard Paperwork In The Lounge Or Onboard
I once found someone’s resignation letter on the printer in the airline lounge. Always check and never throw things away there. It’s less of an issue now but in the days of printed magazine and newspaper home deliveries when you discard the item your home address label was on it. Take your paperwork with you and shred it or despise of it once ripped up in a number of different trash cans.
7 - Always Check A Photograph Before Sharing Or Posting
When you take a photograph enlarge it and check there are no sensitive pieces of information on it. Even your boarding pass in shot can allow someone to change or cancel your flight simply because they have the reservation code and your full name.
8 - Don’t Talk Business On The Aircraft Or Train
People get bored on board and if you are saying something interesting they will listen. Besides why are you talking business on an aircraft ? There are much better things to do.
9 - Don’t Review Sensitive Documentation In Public Places
Especially documentation that has really sexy titles where it’s obvious from the front cover what it is. A former colleague once spent an entire Transatlantic flight sitting next to someone who was going through their yearly strategic plan - yes they were in the same business and direct competitors ! Be conscious that people can easily see through seat and divider gaps.
10 - Don’t Believe Me ?
On your next trip observe and listen to what’s going on around you - especially if people have had an alcoholic drink. You’ll never behave the same way again.
About The Author
The author is a brand consultant and founder of Mission Critical, a highly focused and curated weekly briefing for time poor and information hungry decision makers and THE FIRST, a monthly briefing containing 31 inspirational insights.
