Deri's Blogs

Four Keys to Manage You Moods

Mood Manager App due to be released soon!

“He’s in a mood today”. ?That’s what Sarah said to me when we met to talk about an event she was planning. ?I was going to be meeting her manager for the first time, and Sarah wanted to warn me that Tom was in ‘a mood’, before he entered the room. ?I wondered how Tom might feel if he had known that Sarah – and likely everyone else that worked with him – felt they needed to alter their behavior based on their manager’s mood. ?In fact, it seemed clear to me, that Sarah’s mood was directly impacted by Tom’s.

Tom might argue that his moods are no one’s business; he gets the job done and that is what he is being paid to do. ?But is he really getting the job done, if he is negatively impacting the people around him?

I believe that most of us would rather be in a ‘good’ (positive) mood (Tom too!), and we’d rather be working with people who are in a good mood too. ?Stress, overwhelming workloads, and the constant connection to technology seemingly required to function these days can cause the most calm of us to feel tense and anxious in short order. ?And that is costing us – big time. ?

Arianna Huffington, in her article “Burnout: The Disease of our Civilization” shares some interesting statistics on the real costs of burnout, including how “not only is there no trade-off between high performance and living a full life, the former is not possible in a sustainable way without the latter. And this applies to both companies and individuals.”

She goes on to say “There is no company whose bottom line will not be enhanced by healthier, happier, less-stressed, well-slept, centered employees. ?

One of the primary things keeping many businesses from adopting more sane and sustainable metrics of success is the stubborn — and dangerously wrongheaded — myth that prioritizing health and well being is incompatible with a healthy bottom line — and that there is a trade-off between high performance and taking care of ourselves. As countless studies show,?this couldn’t be less true.”

While exercise programs, meditation rooms, and sponsored yoga classes are all great for creating a healthier (happier and more productive) organization, mood management is just as important. Moods are like viruses…they spread…within you and outside of you to others. In the end, mood management can be a matter of life and death.

I had the honor of delivering a TEDxManitoba talk, titled ‘Choose Life’ that goes directly to the heart of this matter. ?Take a few mintues (14:39 to be exact) to watch, and let me know what you think.

In the video, I describe one strategy for mood management – be curious, caring and connected. When you start noticing even the slightest change in your mood (the way you feel), remember to PACE yourself:

Pause: Take a moment to stop and reflect.

Ask yourself (be curious): ‘What am I seeing, hearing, feeling right now?’ ?’What’s my story?’

Care: Express self-compassion. ?Rather than judging yourself for the way you are feeling, or for the thoughts you might be having, simply say to yourself ‘This is a challenging time right now.’

Engage: Connect with others. ?Speak with a trusted friend or co-worker to talk through a complicated situation. ?(Connecting with others is REALLY important! ?Check out this post about the dangers of social isolation.)

Tom could benefit from a little mood management – and he will likely be pleasantly surprised at the difference it makes to him…and to the people with whom he works. ?Sarah too. ?How about you? Need a little mood management in your life?

Deri Latimer is an expert in positive possibilities for people! She is one of fewer than 10% of speakers globally who hold the designation of CSP (Certified Speaking Professional), the international measure of excellence for professional competence, proven experience, and optimal client satisfaction. Deri combines a business degree in human resources management with 20 years of experience engaging audiences across every business sector. Deri provides inspiration and information to create psychologically healthy organizations for increased positivity, productivity, and profitability!

 

 

What Clients Say...

“Deri, you are the best! Not a dull moment and the time went too fast!”
Linda Borbridge, Manager, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network
“I’m often asked to recommend a professional speaker who will captivate and motivate, and without hesitation Deri Latimer comes to mind. Deri has a reputation for a no-nonsense, energetic, synergistic approach. Her cutting-edge sessions are the perfect combination of science and inspiration and will have you moving into a new groove.”
Dr. Lewena Bayer, CEO, Civility Experts Inc.
“Deri is the personification of quality, style, and enthusiasm in her message. She delivered a message with our group that heightened their awareness and ability to share success. My hope is that you too will seek her out as a keynote, connector, and catalyst for change.”
Joseph Bork, Program Director, St. Mary’s University
“I am usually the type to sit in the crowd, quietly take it all in, and take notes, notes that end up in a binder, often never to be seen once I return to work. Deri was engaging, fun and as real as they get. I was so moved by her session that I shocked myself by approaching her after the session to chat. During the session I didn’t need to take notes because her concepts hit home and stuck with me. I have already taken her advice and acted on her tips and tools to be more positive. Her positivity is contagious and her message is one that everyone should take time to listen to.”
Amy Normal, VP, Corporate Services, Said Business School, University of Oxford
“I had the privilege of hearing Deri keynote at our conference. She captivates, motivates, and positively engages an audience with her unique combination of wisdom about neuroscience and positive behaviors that can be life changing when put into action. I would recommend her without any reservation for those seeking a speaker who can move an audience – from associates on a manufacturing floor to members of an executive leadership team – into action. Her takeaways are designed for positive impact. Prepare to laugh, to be curious, to be hungry for more time to listen to Deri.”
Vickie Maris, Host, Agile Digital Business
“Deri, your seminar truly resonated with our team. You took the time to learn about our roles, our challenges and opportunities and created an inspiring and motivating seminar just for us and made an impact with every person there. Having your book to use as a tool in our day-to-day has also been very valuable and has enhanced the results we got out of the time with you. We all hope that we will see you again at the next conference!”
Chantelle Arsenault, GBA, Great West Life Assurance Company of Canada
“It was an absolute pleasure to have Deri speak at our AGM. Deri brought an amazing level of passion and energy as she engaged our members with her talk on growth mindset. If you are looking for a speaker to connect with your audience, I would highly recommend that you reach out to Deri. Thank you, Deri – we were lucky to have you!”
Rob Chester, Director Information Security, Wawanesa Insurance
“A wonderfully authentic speaker with an infectious positive energy, Deri takes the crowd back to the roots of inspiration by sparking something within the humanity of the people in the room. Her fantastic sense of humor and knowledgeable way of integrating experiential learning opportunities into an inspirational message makes her a speaker not to miss!”
Ashley Collette, Social Work Officer, Canadian Armed Forces
“I forgot to take notes because I was taking it all in and feeling change take hold…”
Derek Rumboldt-Delouche, Director, Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada
“That was fantastic! That was the most energized I have ever felt leaving a conference!!”
Barb Spurway, Principal Consultant, Protegra
“I cannot exaggerate how positively our Forum delegates reacted to your presentation. You set the perfect tone for the entire conference and left a lasting impression on our delegates and CPA staff alike.”
Sarah Marshall, President, Canadian Physiotherapy Association
“You changed people.”
Michelle Kletke, Human Resources Manager, TNG, Jim Pattison Group