Making It Uncomfortable for an Agent to Leave

by | Apr 24, 2025

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.

 

The Simple Psychology of Real Estate Recruiting [2nd Edition]

Unlock the secrets of effective real estate recruiting. Revised to include actionable frameworks for sharper execution and to help you turn psychological theory into a repeatable recruiting system.

How to Disqualify a Recruiting Prospect

How to Disqualify a Recruiting Prospect

But what happens when the prospect is NOT qualified? If you’re being selective and focused on hiring talented agents, at least 80% of recruiting prospects are not going to meet your standards. Here are some ways to wrap-up a call with an unqualified prospect.