If You Hired You, Would You Fire You?

Assessing Your Performance as a Real Estate Agent

Ask yourself: If you hired you, would you fire you? This question forces you to evaluate your accountability, professionalism, and effectiveness as an agent. Are you consistently delivering great service, or are you cutting corners and hoping clients won’t notice?

Real estate is a relationship-driven business, and your reputation depends on communication, follow-through, and ethical practices. Whether you’re struggling with responsiveness, marketing, or contract presentations, it’s essential to hold yourself accountable. Today, we take a hard look in the mirror and identify where improvements are needed.

Owning Your Mistakes and Taking Action

Every agent faces moments of self-doubt or missteps. Alyssa shared a personal story about a listing where she became complacent after going under contract. The deal was contingent on the buyer selling their home, but when that sale stalled, she realized she had stopped actively marketing the property.

Instead of addressing the issue immediately, she avoided it, letting discomfort grow. Finally, after seeking advice, she picked up the phone, apologized to her clients, and presented a new marketing plan. The result? The clients appreciated the honesty and the renewed effort. The lesson: Taking action is the only way to move forward.

Top Reasons Employees (or Agents) Get Fired

To further examine performance, we looked at common reasons employees get fired and how they apply to real estate agents.

1. Poor Performance

Failing to meet client expectations, missing deadlines, and producing low-quality work are major red flags. If your listings sit on the market with little effort to drive traffic, or if clients constantly follow up for updates, you’re not doing your job.

2. Lack of Communication

Do your clients have to chase you for updates? Are you responding promptly to calls, emails, and texts? Poor responsiveness is a key reason clients lose trust in their agents.

3. Tardiness and Missed Appointments

Are you showing up late to showings, inspections, or client meetings? Consistently being late damages credibility. Punctuality is a basic expectation of professionalism.

4. Dishonesty or Lack of Integrity

Real estate agents must explain contracts clearly. Lately, buyers have reported signing agreements they didn’t understand, often because agents rushed through the process. If you’re slipping in a buyer rep agreement without explaining it fully, you’re breaking trust. Transparency is key.

5. Inconsistent Marketing and Follow-Through

Your job doesn’t end when a listing goes live. If a property isn’t selling, are you adjusting strategies, providing sellers with updates, and actively working toward solutions? Clients expect you to be proactive, not passive.

6. Negative Attitude or Poor Teamwork

A successful agent doesn’t just work well with clients—they also maintain good relationships with lenders, title companies, and other agents. If you’re difficult to work with or uncooperative, it affects your reputation.

7. Resistance to Change

The real estate industry evolves constantly, whether it’s technology, policies, or marketing strategies. If you refuse to adapt, you risk becoming obsolete. Stay educated, attend trainings, and embrace change.

The Dangers of “Gotcha” Contracts

Some agents approach buyer representation agreements as a gotcha moment, securing a commitment without proper explanation. A recent story involved a buyer who unknowingly signed a six-month contract with an agent she didn’t want to work with. Her father, an attorney, had to intervene to resolve the situation.

If a buyer or seller wants out of a contract, forcing them to stay will only damage your reputation. Real estate should be about service, not trapping people in agreements they don’t understand.

How Each Enneagram Type Might Get Fired

Personality plays a role in business performance. Here’s how each Enneagram type might struggle in real estate:

• Type 1 (The Perfectionist): Overly critical or rigid, leading to delays.
• Type 2 (The Helper): Overcommitted to helping others, neglecting personal responsibilities.
• Type 3 (The Achiever): Prioritizing image over substance, potentially cutting corners.
• Type 4 (The Individualist): Struggles with teamwork or becomes overly emotional.
• Type 5 (The Investigator): Withholds information, making collaboration difficult.
• Type 6 (The Loyalist): Overly cautious and resistant to change.
• Type 7 (The Enthusiast): Easily distracted, failing to follow through.
• Type 8 (The Challenger): Too aggressive, creating a hostile environment.
• Type 9 (The Peacemaker): Avoids conflict and fails to take initiative.

Understanding your personality helps identify areas for growth. If you’re unsure of your type, take an Enneagram test and reflect on how your tendencies affect your business.

Final Thoughts: Take Control of Your Business

If you hired you, would you fire you? This question isn’t meant to discourage—it’s an opportunity to improve. Identify areas where you’ve been complacent, take ownership, and make necessary changes.

• Communicate regularly with clients.
• Show up on time and follow through on commitments.
• Stay ethical and transparent in all dealings.
• Adapt to industry changes and continuously learn.
• Prioritize action over avoidance.

Your reputation and business success depend on consistency, integrity, and professionalism. If you want to build a thriving real estate career, hold yourself to the highest standards—because if you don’t, your clients will.