Fight The Pesky Mood Swingers

The not-so-fun link between stress and your mortgage operational team

Insider

Chief Operations Officer, Atlantic Bay Mortgage

Just when we thought the stress couldn’t get any worse, we are seeing glimpses of what Q4 and Q1 may bring us. Everyone is showing up with increased amount of stress, fear, and anxiety. Does it feel like no matter how hard you try; you are still making mistakes? When even the simplest of tasks seem impossible to finish and you can’t help but feel like a pressure cooker on the brink of explosion? I, recently, attended an executive roundtable where we had the privilege of spending the day with a highly skilled mortgage coach who focuses on the neuroscience behind how we subconsciously respond to our stress, jobs, and even lives. Most of the executives had a similar question. In an environment where quality is so important, why are there so many errors? In an environment where quality is so costly and customer service is crucial, why isn’t everyone showing up as their best selves daily? The answer was simple: A heightened level of cortisol.

Corti-what?

Cortisol. It’s that pesky hormone our bodies produce when we’re stressed. While it’s super handy when we’re being chased by a bear (or facing other, more modern-day threats), consistently high levels can wreak havoc on our brains and bodies. And, unfortunately for us in the mortgage industry, that can spell bad news for our operational work.

Ops and Stress: A Tricky Affair

Mortgage operations is no joke. We’re dealing with trying to make our already stressed sales partners happy and successful (in a very challenging environment), difficult qualification scenarios, short contract dates, and the ever-present anxiety of the unknown. It’s stressful. And when we’re stressed, cortisol levels shoot up.

So, What’s the Big Deal?

Here’s the low-down:

Decreased Focus & Memory: Elevated cortisol can mess with our brain’s ability to concentrate and recall information. Ever forgotten a crucial step or overlooked an important document? It could be thanks to cortisol clouding your cognitive abilities.
Mood Swings: Stress and increased cortisol can make us irritable and moody. Not ideal when “showing up as your best self” is increasingly important.
Decision Fatigue: Under stress, our ability to make clear decisions can diminish. This means we might take shortcuts, miss red flags, or simply get overwhelmed by the choices at hand.
Burnout: Continual stress can lead to burnout, making it harder to stay motivated and productive in our roles.

Under stress, our ability to make clear decisions can diminish.

Tackling the Stress-Cortisol Conundrum

It’s not all doom and gloom, though! There are ways to manage stress and keep cortisol levels in check. Here are some hot tips:

Take Breaks: Remember to step away from your desk. A short walk or even just some deep breathing exercises can work wonders.
Stay Organized: Reduce chaos by using tools and strategies to stay on top of tasks.
Connect with Others: Share your stresses and successes with colleagues. Sometimes, just venting can help.
Stay Active: Exercise is a fantastic stress buster. Even a quick 10-minute workout can help.
Mindfulness & Meditation: These practices can keep you grounded and help regulate stress.

Stress and its buddy cortisol are sneaky foes, especially in an environment of such pressure. But understanding their impact and knowing how to combat them can make all the difference. Let’s keep our cortisol in check and those mortgage operations smooth as butter!