Barbara Concoron is definitely one of the nicer judges on the Shark Tank panel. With her kind and straightforward reputation, clubbed with her benevolent nature with money, one can not help but wonder about her status as a workplace boss.
Who is Barbara Corcoran?
Barbara Corcoran is a real estate entrepreneur, investor, and a judge on the Shark Tank investor panel. Her success story began with a small loan that ultimately evolved into a multimillion-dollar real estate business.
She is also known for her ability to inspire teams as a boss, create vibrant work cultures, and share humanistic vision and wisdom on leadership and growth.
What Sets Barbara Concoron’s Workplace Environment Apart?
While many business leaders aggressively focus on numbers and efficiency, Corcoran is known for emphasizing the human side of work more promptly. Her approach towards the workplace has been contingent on making it a holistic and wholesome experience.
When the paycheck isn’t the only reason one shows up for work, you get a team that is motivated beyond the superficial. Prioritization of job satisfaction breeds a culture of togetherness and team spirit, which is absent from most workplaces.
Here are some ways Barbara has set her workplace environment a class apart.
Play Hard, Party Harder
Corcoran was famous for throwing over-the-top parties for her team, sometimes even with themes and costumes (irrespective of Halloween). The sillier the theme, the better the energy. This kind of workplace vibes and practices breaks down rigid hierarchies and helps people feel comfortable bringing forward their personal new ideas.
“I always made fun the priority,” she said in a TikTok once. “In sales, you may like the people you work with, but they’re also competing with you. That creates a mix of friend and rival. Sharing fun moments changes that dynamic and puts everyone on the same level.”
Perks and Authenticity Go a Long Way
Corcoran went beyond the usual office setup and turned the workplace into something closer to a clubhouse. She found ways to ease her team’s stress and added simple perks that made the office a nicer place to be.
These perks included:
- Employees could get their clothes cleaned,
- Employees could drop off their kids with a sitter,
- Free lunch for all employees,
- Employees could play games ping-pong, table tennis, etc
- Employees could sit for a quick salon session or get a shoe shine without ever leaving the office.
Albeit not too much, all of this ends up being a big psychological boost.
Breaking Routine with Big Surprises
Corcoran would randomly surprise her staff by taking them out of the city for an off-site break in the middle of the week. She arranged for unconventional experiences (at least for an office picnic) that ranged from riding camels and elephants to floating high above the ground in hot-air balloons.
Creating Healthy Competition
Corcoran utilizes the spirit of competition in a way that is energizing rather than cutthroat. Healthy competition encourages people to stretch their limits, while also building camaraderie when done in a fair and lighthearted way.
The key is to keep the focus on growth and shared success rather than fueling rivalries.
Initiatives Like A Dollar for Every Thought
Corcoran introduced a “good idea jar” to make contributions easy and rewarding. Team members were encouraged to drop in any idea, from practical tweaks to bold concepts, and each earned a small cash reward turning brainstorming into a habit.
Bonuses Work Better Than Appraisals
Corcoran believed that recognition carries more weight than a standard raise. Raises are expected, but an unexpected bonus or a public acknowledgment hits differently. It tells someone their effort was noticed right away, and it motivates them to keep going.
She made a habit of recognizing progress at every step, using it as a chisel to sculpt the employee behavior she wanted to see more of.
Lesson for Businesses and Workplaces
A lot can be learned from Barbara’s approach, especially today, when employee satisfaction is often at an all-time low in many workplaces. In a hyper-competitive environment focused solely on numbers and targets, human emotions and connections are something that is overlooked. And with the advent of AI, it is only getting worse.
When employees feel their employer genuinely values their well-being, it creates a stronger sense of connection and loyalty.
That same sense of connection encourages employees to stay and give their best. Barbara and her carefully concocted workplace environment show us that business success and employee satisfaction are not two antagonistic goals and can be achieved together.
