Experiencing A Flight Delay Or Cancellation? How To Use That Time To Improve Your Career

By Simon Bacher, co-founder of Ling, a mobile edtech company, specializing in language learning.

No one likes their flight to be delayed or canceled. In fact, most of us pray that this won’t happen when we get to the airport. But flight delays and cancellations seem to be increasing. Thousands of flights were either delayed or canceled recently following the failure of the Federal Aviation Administration pilot-alert system. This echoes a similar situation in late December when Southwest Airlines was forced to cancel thousands of flights.

So, what to do with all this time on your hands? Rather than sit there anxiously worrying, here are some tips for how you can use that time to improve your career.

Reflect on your goals for the year.

There never seems to be enough time in the day to get everything done. But this year that could change, depending on how you manage your time.

If your flight was delayed or canceled, why not use that time to send a networking email asking a mentor or fellow business leader to lunch? As all business owners can attest, networking is crucial—it’s a quick way to bring awareness to your brand and make connections in a fast-paced world.

If one of your 2023 goals was to reduce screen time, maybe you can use your time effectively by going to the airport bookstore and picking up a book about how to grow your business or improve your leadership tactics.

You’d be amazed at what you can accomplish using your time wisely and effectively. But remember that this is about spending your time well, not perfecting it.

Finalize that business plan.

Every business owner has a business plan that needs to be finalized. So why not hunker down in the airport and finally finish it?

Find a quiet spot where there aren’t too many distractions. All airports seem to have a Starbucks nowadays, so you can also treat yourself to your favorite drink as an added bonus or pick-me-up. Checking off the often monumental task of finalizing a business plan can help you feel accomplished and productive in spite of a delayed or canceled flight.

Remain calm and listen to business growth podcasts.

Sometimes delayed or canceled flights can cause us to miss important business meetings or special family gatherings and even cost us more than we originally planned. Emotions can run high, but I’m sure you’d agree that getting angry will only make matters worse, so why not remain calm?

One way to help you remain calm is by sharing your situation and experience with other passengers. Another way to help you remain calm is by listening to podcasts.

Interested in a topic but never had the time to learn about it? Did a colleague recommend a podcast that you never listened to? Use this time to do that! Learning can happen anytime, anywhere, so why wait? Learn other business leaders’ secrets to success and build your confidence as a leader. Whether your flight was delayed one hour or 24 hours, this can help you keep calm and carry on.

Unfortunately, flight delays and cancellations are becoming increasingly common these days. This means that whenever you book your ticket, you should prepare for the fact that this might happen to you. However, if you follow the tips in this article, your time in the airport can be well spent and even help you improve your career. Good luck and safe travels!