Barbara Corcoran made her (national) name in the high-flying world of reality competition television. But when the pandemic hit, the breakout star of “Shark Tank” got busy calling the heads of nearly 80 companies affiliated with her brand to check in and offer some advice on how to navigate the time and lead their teams.
She recently shared some of these tips with Inc.com. Among them:
- Lean into uncertainty. Corcoran told her team that now is the time to let go of certain standard ways of doing business, including long relied on revenue sources. “Assume nothing from that list is ever going to happen again,” Corcoran told Inc. “Where else could you drum up some business?” That entrepreneurial spirit paid off, with many members of her team reporting that they’d found new ways to connect with customers, including pathways that reduced costs and streamlined operations.
- Focus on the now. Corcoran said she reminded her team that many factors are simply out of their hands. Learning to accept that truth can help reduce stress around your business. “You’ll go crazy trying to control something you can’t,” Corcoran said. “Whatever is going to help within the day or the week is what I get people to focus on, because I believe that does make the biggest difference.”
Ready for a busy holiday season? Get more tips on how to communicate with your team and plan for flexibility during a high-volume period.
Mary Westbrook is the editor in chief of Floral Management.
