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u - WAl'thix) 01mm - My. April a, 2009 l Laughing Ollt [0 “(1 Local laugh coach is trying to lighten up gloomy work environments ‘ BY Boa Wm “Yeah. go ahead and take your job seri- . Chronicle Staff ously." said loyd. “it's important to you. you ‘ want to hold on to that. e've all heard of life coaches. who ‘ “But gosh, take yourself lightly. Smile Wtry to help you sort through life's lit- more and you’ll be surprised by how many ‘ tle challenges to help you achieve people smile back at you - it changes the I your goals. but what can a laugh coach do whole vibe. " for you? She showed off the power of humor at a ‘ Deb loyd would like to answer that quesâ€" ' ’ recent conference, It was the last session at tion as she hands you a red clone nose in 7 the end ofa long day and she knew people addition to a business card for her Waterlooâ€" , ,. i were just waiting for the next break. based company. And April 1 is the perfect ‘ . She encouraged them to take that break day to get a little exposure for her business, (a; at ‘ early and handed out a bunch of the red deb loyd & company. at the Waterloo Region fa: 5:21;; ' noses she always seems to carry. Small Business Centre that helped launch ‘ vi $5255 . X “All of a sudden I saw these people her mission of bringing a little levity to a k’Q é. change." said Loyd. “Even the shy ones got world that seems stuck in the doldnims. %_ up and their cheekiness came out. loyd has been an entenainer all her life, 2’1“?“ I; “Then went down the hall and were look- and brings an infectious energy to all her ‘ "1 is; ing in rooms and other people and you interactions. She started her career as a chil- a; , could hear laughter all down the hall. [I was dren's entertainer and graduated to giving a; wonderful. seminars to local educators on finding dif~ '5 “it proved my point to them â€" keep your ferent ways of inspiring their students. a ,1, nose handy because you never know when “That was the seed really,” said Loyd. . . ii" you'll have to use it.” “Kids are great because they are a wonderful . V“; 1' How loyd took the plunge and decided to audience. expand her consulting business is also quite “They're honest and they'll tell you what a humorous story. She was coming into they think” Waterloo City Hall to pay a parking ticket But she soon thought why should the when she noticed the Waterloo Region Small kids have all the fun? Aren't there adults and Business Centre office on the first floor of workplaces also in need of a shot in the arm? city hall. Couldn't we all use a laugh in these times “Deb didn’t come in here to pay a parking of economic uncertainty? isn't this the best ticket, she really came to fight a parking tick- time for a little levity to break up all that et when she found us,” laughed Roy Weber. workplace tension? an advisor at the small business centre. Loyd thought so, that’s why she expanded And by doing so Loyd said she found a ' her business plan to see if there were others business coach in the process. Weber helped she could make laugh. help reconnect and ‘ ; reinforce her belief that this was a sound inspire. That's included branching out as a 5;. .3..- business idea. keynote speaker at conferences. and talking "1 “He helped me to believe in what i do,” . about why we all have to take ourselves a lit- a she said. "This is about helping people look tie less seriously these days Laugh coad'i Deb Loyd is trying to lighten the atmosphere at local workplaces by bringing in a' at themselves in another way, and finding “1 call myself a keynote performer.” said little levity through her workshops including Lunch and Lath and Enlighten Up. some humor in the workplace. Loyd. “And one of the areas I working on “WW“ “if you smile and laugh more its coma» right now is the importance ofplaytime. their batteries the end of the week at the dreaded staff gious â€" don't be afraid to do it” i “i think that's something important for “i do things like look at body language in meeting hand out some red noses or give a For more information visit kidsaswellasadults', the workplace and humorin the workplace,” gaggiftout. www.debloyd.comr You can also email Her motivational speaking ballooned to said Loyd. “l've been doing more and more "Do something that shows your apprecia~ deb@debloyd.com or call 519-880-0566. include team building workshops, profes- of that lately because who doesn't need a tion. and shows that you have an actual sional storytelling, Lunch and Laugh ses- sense ofhumor in the workplace now." sense ofhumor yourself.’ sions and EnLigthen Up programming. With all the bad economic news, morale it also inspires something that a lot of deb ION & company 1 which she trademarked. The Lunch and can be a real issue with some workplaces. workplaces hope will drive their perform- 4 laugh program can be done over a standard Loyd said employers can still show some ance and their future growth - creativity. maxim", { lunch break and be a quick pick<me»up for appreciation to their staff by 00nt her She said she understands that people de com the office. while the Enlighten Up program and getting her to lighten up those spirits identify themselves with their work. but they 5l9~8w-0566 are staff development fun shops to recharge “Humor is so important.” said Loyd. “At don't have to be so humorless about it. . I In;ured.... we get paid when lm'orell kelly] you get pald' l l . i ‘ 1 Personal Injury Law i 3 Straiht answers to all your uestions. morellkelly.com 519.743.4443 ~ i