Well, for meeting planners, air travel generally is in the job description. But according to this article in USAToday, people who come to your meetings—or rather don't because they're afraid to fly—could be putting their jobs in jeopardy. From the article:
- Fear of flying cripples — or at least burdens — the careers of millions of Americans. Also known as aviaphobia, it causes many employees to pass up promotions or miss out-of-town meetings, training sessions or sales calls. It can decrease productivity and strain relationships with employers. In some cases, it limits careers by pigeonholing workers in jobs that they're not well-suited for but that will keep them firmly on the ground.
Besides its toll on employees, fear of flying is detrimental to employers. Less-qualified employees may be hired for positions requiring air travel, and less-capable workers must be sent to out-of-town meetings and industry conferences. Jim Abelson, director of the Anxiety Disorders Program at the University of Michigan, says the cost to employers is "substantial." Many employers "don't know the price they're paying," because the cost is hidden, he says.
In a backdoor way, this article is showing just how important meetings are to employers and employees alike for professional growth. Having a touch of FOF myself, I can imagine just how much it means to someone who has it bad to have to go through what they have to go through to get themselves on a plane to get to a meeting. It means that much to them to get there that they're willing to do it, and that's something that should warm the cockles of any meeting planner's heart.