Action Leads to Insight

by | Aug 12, 2025

When trying to find solutions to a difficult problem (like recruiting), most people search for insight from their own experiences, the insights of others, and best practices.

And then they contemplate what might work for them.

While that’s a great place to start, professors Chip and Dan Heath advise taking exploration a step further.

Research suggests that reflecting or ruminating on our own thoughts and feelings is an ineffective way to achieve true understanding.

Studying your own behavior is more fruitful.

It’s better to take a risk, try something, and distill the answer from experience rather than navel-gazing.

Action leads to insight more often than insight leads to action.

Successful recruiters and hiring managers take action based on the possibility that a promising tactic may produce positive results.

And then they measure results–not at the macro-level (Did I get a hire?), but at the micro-level (Did my call script cause my recruiting prospect to engage?).

Each small action that proves successful adds to your insight.

 

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.

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According to a nationwide survey of more than 1,900 agents, those who consider themselves “experts” at generating leads earn nearly four times as much as agents who struggle with this activity. It’s probably safe to say, the same principle holds true for recruiting.

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But if you’ve been around long enough, you know the business and real estate world doesn’t allow us to indulge in this comfort. It requires us to adjust or be left behind. It also rewards those who recognize that the connection between people, systems, and opportunities needs constant adjustment.

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To keep yourself from getting caught in this trap, do the hard work of creating and maintaining a large and vibrant recruiting database. Poor prospects don’t look so great when you have lots of other choices.