Archive for recruiting objections
Recruiters: The Other 3 Reasons They Don’t Join You–How to Handle
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This month is recruiting month on my blog.
What reasons have you run across, as a recruiter, that people give in telling you why they won’t move? I
n the previous blog, we explored the first three reasons agents stay–and how to move them. Here are the 6 reasons:
- A� A�A� Starting over is time-consuming.
- A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A� Re-branding can take away from your productivity.
- A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A� They are a�?happy where they area��.
- A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A� They arena��t convinced the grass is greener.
- A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A� They are afraid of change.
- A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A� They have gotten an offer from their present ownership to entice them to stay (better commission split, freebies, ownership, etc.)a��theya��re a�?bought backa��.
Now, we’ll tackle the last 3. By the way, don’t forget to grab my transition plan below.
Which of these barriers have you experienced as a recruiter/interviewer?
How to Fire Up that Discontent
Before we go to reasons 4, 5, and 6, let’s discuss a little more about #3: I’m happy where I am.A� Sure. They all (or most of them) say that. My question to you is,A� Are you asking the right questions of the candidate? You should be asking questions to help that candidate reveal areas of discontent. For example: Has the candidate been in the business several years? Does he have some frustration in the direction the company is taking? If he has voiced concerns to you, keep asking probing questions about those concerns to raise his level of discontent. Dona��t worry. You wona��t create discontent where he has none! But, many times we just live with that discontenta��just like I did with that bathroom–because wea��ve too complacent to do something about it!A� I want you to practice with someone to increase that pain. Dona��t jump to the better picture with you or solve the problem until youa��ve explored the depth and reasons for that pain.
One of the agents I recruited told me she was a�?happy where she wasa��, and proceeded to tell me all the things she wanted changed in the companya��and was frustrated she couldna��t change them. After our conversation, I said, a�?You sure sound happy!a�� She laughed, and then joined our company. Sometimes just acknowledging the discontent lets the candidate move off dead center.
- They Arena��t Convinced the Grass is Greener
Earlier, I said some reasons for staying are valid. I believe that the grass isna��t always greener. At least, not the kind of grass some managers fertilize! For instance, a better commission split rarely solves a production problem. But, agents try to solve it by going to an in-expensive desk fee company. Sure, less expenses are the easy way to think the problem is solved. But, the underlying cause of low production is still there. The greener grass is actually a manager with the systems to help that agent produce more successfully. Although the commission splits and fees must be competitive, they rarely resolve the real problema��discontent with the production level.
- They are Afraid of Change
Is there anyone who isna��t afraid of change? No matter what we say, we are where we are because we are more comfortable with that than the unknown. How can you help that candidate become acclimated to the a�?newa��?
- A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A� Invite the candidate to your training sessions.A�
- A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A� Offer to coach the agent.
- A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A� Invite the agent to social functions.
- A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A� Include the agent in your newsletters and social media.
- A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A� Show the agent around your office and introduce him/her to your associates.
In other words, start treating the agent like shea��s with youa��before she is.
- They are a�?bought backa��.
What does this say to the agents in that office? a�?Youa��re much less valuable than the less than loyal person who is leaving us.a�? I dona��t believe in buying back an agent. You ruin your teamwork and become less than a fair leader. Instead, of getting in a bidding war for the agent, simply recruit the other agents in that office who cana��t be thrilled when they find out they are second-class citizens!
How do you handle these a�?status quoa�� decisions? The more skilled you become at a�?disruptinga�� the status quo, the more candidates you recruit.
Dona��t forget to grab my transition plan. Click here.
Do You Have an Effective Recruiting Plan?
Want recruiting strategies? Don’t have a recruiting plan? Get my comprehensive resource, The Complete Recruiter.A� Click here to see it.
Do You Have a Selection System?
Or, you can get them into your office, but you’re having trouble picking winners? Check out my dandy eBook, Your Blueprint to Selecting Winners.
3 More Reasons Agents Stay–and How to Move Them
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In the previous blog, we explored the first three reasons agents stay–and how to move them. Here are the 6 reasons:
- A� A�A� Starting over is time-consuming.
2.A�A�A�A�A� Re-branding can take away from your productivity.
3.A�A�A�A�A� They are a�?happy where they area��.
4.A�A�A�A�A� They arena��t convinced the grass is greener.
5.A�A�A�A�A� They are afraid of change.
6.A�A�A�A�A� They have gotten an offer from their present ownership to entice them to stay (better commission split, freebies, ownership, etc.)a��theya��re a�?bought backa��.
Now, we’ll tackle the last 3. By the way, don’t forget to grab my transition plan below.
Which of these barriers have you experienced as a recruiter/interviewer?
How to Fire Up that Discontent
Before we go to reasons 4, 5, and 6, let’s discuss a little more about #3: I’m happy where I am.A� Sure. They all (or most of them) say that. My question to you is,A� Are you asking the right questions of the candidate? You should be asking questions to help that candidate reveal areas of discontent. For example: Has the candidate been in the business several years? Does he have some frustration in the direction the company is taking? If he has voiced concerns to you, keep asking probing questions about those concerns to raise his level of discontent. Dona��t worry. You wona��t create discontent where he has none! But, many times we just live with that discontenta��just like I did with that bathroom–because wea��ve too complacent to do something about it!A� I want you to practice with someone to increase that pain. Dona��t jump to the better picture with you or solve the problem until youa��ve explored the depth and reasons for that pain.
One of the agents I recruited told me she was a�?happy where she wasa��, and proceeded to tell me all the things she wanted changed in the companya��and was frustrated she couldna��t change them. After our conversation, I said, a�?You sure sound happy!a�� She laughed, and then joined our company. Sometimes just acknowledging the discontent lets the candidate move off dead center.
4. They Arena��t Convinced the Grass is Greener
Earlier, I said some reasons for staying are valid. I believe that the grass isna��t always greener. At least, not the kind of grass some managers fertilize! For instance, a better commission split rarely solves a production problem. But, agents try to solve it by going to an in-expensive desk fee company. Sure, less expenses are the easy way to think the problem is solved. But, the underlying cause of low production is still there. The greener grass is actually a manager with the systems to help that agent produce more successfully. Although the commission splits and fees must be competitive, they rarely resolve the real problema��discontent with the production level.
5. They are Afraid of Change
Is there anyone who isna��t afraid of change? No matter what we say, we are where we are because we are more comfortable with that than the unknown. How can you help that candidate become acclimated to the a�?newa��?
- A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A� Invite the candidate to your training sessions.A�
- A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A� Offer to coach the agent.
- A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A� Invite the agent to social functions.
- A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A� Include the agent in your newsletters and social media.
- A�A�A�A�A�A�A�A� Show the agent around your office and introduce him/her to your associates.
In other words, start treating the agent like shea��s with youa��before she is.
6.A�A�A�A� 6.A� They are a�?bought backa��.
What does this say to the agents in that office? a�?Youa��re much less valuable than the less than loyal person who is leaving us.a�? I dona��t believe in buying back an agent. You ruin your teamwork and become less than a fair leader. Instead, of getting in a bidding war for the agent, simply recruit the other agents in that office who cana��t be thrilled when they find out they are second-class citizens!
How do you handle these a�?status quoa�� decisions? The more skilled you become at a�?disruptinga�� the status quo, the more candidates you recruit.
Dona��t forget to grab my transition plan. Click here.
Want recruiting strategies? Don’t have a recruiting plan? Get my comprehensive resource, The Complete Recruiter, at half-price this month. Click here to see it.
Recruiting: 6 Reasons They Stay and How to Move Them
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Recruiting: 6 Reasons They Stay and How to Move Them–Do you know? If youa��ve recruited, youa��ve heard the commona��and expecteda��objections to coming to your company. There are only about 5 or 6. But, what can you do to convince someone who is intent on staying where he/she isa��to make the move?
In this first blog, we’ll explore the first 3 reasons.
Most Common Reasons Agents Stay Where they Are
When I knew I was going to write this blog, I asked my friends on Facebook and LinkedIn to share with me what they thought were the most common reasons agents dona��t make the move. Here they are:
1.A�A�A�A�A� Starting over is time-consuming.
2.A�A�A�A�A� Re-branding can take away from your productivity.
3.A�A�A�A�A� They are a�?happy where they area��.
4.A�A�A�A�A� They arena��t convinced the grass is greener.
5.A�A�A�A�A� They are afraid of change.
6.A�A�A�A�A� They have gotten an offer from their present ownership to entice them to stay (better commission split, freebies, ownership, etc.)a��theya��re a�?bought backa��.
Some of these, I think, are valid, maybe for the wrong reasons. Leta��s look at each of them, along with exploring why people make certain decisions, and how you can affect those decisions.
1.A�A�A�A�A� 1. Starting Over is Time-Consuming
Well, thata��s true. It is. And, the longer wea��ve been in a job, the more comfortable we are there. At face value, we can all agree with that. So, as a recruiter, what can you do to ease the burden of transition? You can create a transition plan that takes away the pain. Do you have a checklist, along with the personnel, to make that transition painless (or at least almost painless)? Show you are dedicated to managing the transition so the agent can be more productive. One of the things youa��ll learn as you take them through the items on the transition plan is that most agents either have no database or a database they havena��t updated to years! So, youa��ll want to assign an assistant to update or create the database. Your transition plan should include a pre-written email and hard copy message that is customized and sent by the assistant to a designated number of people in the agenta��s database.
Managing the transition process really works. Armed with an assistant dedicated to implementing the transition plan, a top producing agent actually got more referrals and doubled his income the year he went from company A to company B. Why? Because the assistant a�?drovea�� the contacts to the agent, increasing by far the a�?touchesa�� the agent had made to his valued past clients.
Click here to get my transition plan.
2. Re-branding Can Take Away from your Productivity
This is similar to the first a�?stay where I ama�� reason. But, it goes further. Put yourself in the agenta��s shoes. How would you like to face ordering new business cards, changing your logo on all print/electronic materials, updating your website, your blog, your social media? Overwhelming. So, that must all be included in your transition plan.
Proof is in the outcome: Be sure to gather testimonials of those youa��ve helped transition, along with their income increases. That speaks volumes to the candidate!
3. They are a�?happy where they area��.
Of course they are. Wea��re all where we are because we believe it is safer, less fearful, and more predictable than the unknown. And, wea��re happy theya��re happy. But, herea��s the real question: Do you believe they would be happier with you? Do you fervently believe you can help them further their careers? Thata��s where it starts. If you believe they would be better served to be with you, ita��s your job to gain the skills to help them start feeling more comfortable with the a�?unknown.a��
The Motivational Cycle Gives Us Clues for Supporting Change
Leta��s look at how each of us decides to make a changea��in anything. What causes you to finally make any change? How discontented to you need to be before you take action? The motivational cycle gives us clues:
A�Starting the motivational cycle. First we have unrealized discontent. For example: One of our bathrooms has cried out for some re-modeling, and I have ignored the cries for years. But, finally, for some reason, I recognized that cry for a�?polisha��. I had talked to a contractor months ago but didna��t follow through (investigation). Recently, I finally realized that discontent (I looked at the peeling wallpaper behind the door one too many times!). Now, because my conscious discontent has been nagging me, I just made the call to the contractor. A�Ia��m ready to take action and get that bathroom looking nice! That will mean my need is realized. But, guess what? Ia��ll have another episode of discontent!
Our job as a�?motivational cycle facilitatorsa�� is to help the candidate feel the maximum amount of his discontent.
Which agents have you tried to recruit who have thrown these barriers in your way? How skilled have you been at removing them?
Tune in for the next blog to explore the other 3 reasons agents give that they stay.