It's the ability to understand and share someone else's emotional experience, even if you can't explain why they suddenly turned into a grumpy goat. Perhaps they have always been like this and it isn’t realised until much later on in life that this is the effect they have on conversations and interactions. Her head was constantly down and rather than viewing the world in any kind of positive light, she seemed to view everything through gloomy, grimy glasses. If this behaviour continues unchecked, the whole team can be affected, because behaviour is infectious,’ says Barbara Johnson, who recommends training for managers to gain confidence in having those tricky conversations. Remembering all the good things you have in your life – focus on not staying bogged down by other people’s negativity, and remember that their opinions are not necessarily your own.

It's bloody infuriating because we all do offer and try to help but it isn't wanted unless it's to play a violin about how no one helps! Mood hoovers can have a significant effect on your workforce as they drag other people down with them. Whether a person ignores the way another person influences them or not depends on their own stance within the relationship; whether they believe it is possible to challenge a person’s way of social interaction. Powerful, plaintive expression of the fathomless sorrow of our suffering cetaceans and their depthless home, together with the indescribable loveliness of their distant blue-black realm. The correlation between dramatic, pessimistic, chaotic people and their underlying need for attention is complex.To give mood hoovers an accurate description, they are people who suck the energy, life, and positivity out of a person and replace it with their own negativity. Unknowingly these emotional vampires suck the positivity out of everyone around them with their doom and gloom approach to life. I can’t remember when or where I first heard the phrase ‘mood hoover’ but I think it’s a great term to describe people who just ‘hoover up’ any good feelings in an environment and replaces them with their own, whatever they may be (but usually negative ones). Offer to listen and show your support, for as long as it isn't impacting negatively on you, but also encourage them to seek professional help from a coach or therapist.

She was a Drainer or Mood-Hoover and because of this, I eventually drifted away from our friendship. Just like that so if you say anything you end up looking like the bad person trying to exclude them. These negative traits can easily transfer to others, especially if people see them getting away with it.If you’re still struggling with mood hoovers check out our huge range of free blogs, podcasts and self assessments on assertiveness and positive psychology. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice.

It’s easy to be drawn into their depressive world of ‘the glass is always half empty’ (or completely empty, in fact). IME you can hope it gets better and it won't, then eventually split when your DC are teens - totally recommend doing it sooner.No matter how great your vision is or how positive you are, if you want your team to succeed, you need to manage “mood hoovers” within your team. They suck the mood out of others and can contribute to poor morale, low performance, a toxic blame culture, mistrust, and a lack of cooperation across a team. Stay focused on your own thoughts and feelings, and be mindful of what they are telling you – if you feel very different after hearing someone else talk, talk a moment to re-focus on yourself.

Ask curious questions, explore alternative explanations, and unravel the solutions to show that there are positives. They were important and were things that needed to change…but for all my efforts I had no or very little impact on them. Over time, this behaviour may have become ingrained, and they may continue to engage in it even when it's no longer necessary.Talk to them about self talk, growth mindset and resilience and show them the road to healthier mental habits. They both got off at the park where Stan spotted a courting couple and immediately reached for the mood hoover: such happiness couldn't be allowed to continue! All the other passengers were looking on very disapprovingly but the girl didn't care: she was a girl after Stan's own heart. Then the girl offered Stan a lolly - and the machine exploded covering them both with all the loveliness that Sam had been hoovering up.