I recently spoke with a broker-owner who does a great job of collecting hiring and retention data.
Anytime an agent leaves their company, they conduct an exit interview and question those close to the agent to document the reasons for the departure. While a more advantageous financial package usually plays into the decision, it’s not the most common factor cited by the departing agent. The most common reasons: I was not feeling connected to the group. OR, I lost connection with the group. Perhaps this is rationalization—an agent may feel uncomfortable admitting to themselves they left for monetary reasons. But even if this reason is not true, it’s still worth noting what agents are telling themselves when they leave. Stories are powerful—especially the ones we tell ourselves. It’s a worthy goal to build an office or team where this excuse could never be reasonably used. It will increase your retention rate and make those agents who decide to leave even more uncomfortable with their decision.