How Experienced Agents Progress Toward a Hiring Decision

by | Apr 9, 2026

Robin Dreeke is an expert on building trust and rapport.

In a corporate keynote address, he explained the progression individuals go through when making a commitment to another person.

People subconsciously want to know the answers to this series of fundamental questions:

Why should I talk to you?

Why should I tell you anything?

Why would I want to see you again (follow-on appointment)?

Why should I take actions for you?

Why should I follow you?

Working from top to bottom, a person does not progress to the next question until the previous one is adequately answered.

It can take weeks of building rapport to work through this list and finally arrive at the place where a competitive agent is willing to follow you.

Is it worth it?

For the right agent, yes.

What’s not worth your time (or anyone else’s) is attempting to hurry through the list at your pace rather than theirs.

You’ll come up empty-handed every time.

 

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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.

Focus Less on What Your Competitors Offer

Focus Less on What Your Competitors Offer

While candidates will naturally consider other alternatives (commonly what a competitor is offering), it’s the least important issue for getting them to make a change. During the interview and follow-up conversations, don’t make the mistake of focusing too much time and energy on what your competitors are offering.