5 Professional Insecurities That Could Cost You

CHICAGO — Most real estate professionals all have that one thing they absolutely don’t want to do: public speaking, door-knocking, networking. The reality is that not partaking in certain aspects of the business could be costing you money or keeping you from reaching your full potential in the business.

Real estate trainer, presenter and Young Professional Network (YPN) member, Heather Haase, recently covered some common industry phobias and how to overcome them on the Agent Inner Circle blog. Her original post was written in a Halloween theme, and each phobia is listed as a well-known Halloween character: ghouls, ghosts and phantoms to name a few.

Her take on these dreaded insecurities definitely fit the Halloween vibe, but the reality is that they can affect your real estate business year-round. Haase listed the following professional fears in her post:

Public speaking

“I absolutely love being on stage, yet every time before I get up there, I’m a ball of nerves,” Haase writes. “Some of those who know me, like my friend John Gillam, can tell you about my pre-show panic attacks where I feel “not good enough” for the audience.”

Prospecting

“In real estate, the beauty lies in being able to build your business in whatever way suits you. Working FSBOs or Expireds is classic — it works, but it’s not everyone’s style. Personally, I’ve sworn off FSBOs because it’s just not my cup of tea. I’ve found other methods that suit me better.”

Networking

“Networking can truly get you places that a degree might not! It’s about meeting people, forming real connections, and being open to where those connections might lead. I’ve had some amazing opportunities come from networking alone.”

Unresponsive clients

“Ghosting happens all the time in real estate! Setting clear expectations from the beginning has made a difference in maintaining engagement with clients and reducing the ghosting rate.”

Social media

“Social media has become a huge part of real estate marketing, but it brings the fear of negative feedback or public judgment. If a negative comment pops up, though, I ask myself, ‘Is this worth my time?’ Often, miscommunication online makes it not worth engaging. ”

Whether you take issue with one or all of these aspects of the business, Haase says they can be overcome, but first, you have to understand where your fear and hesitation comes from. “Many of these fears are rooted in fear of judgment, self-doubt, and rejection sensitivity,” Haase writes. “The competitive nature of real estate can amplify these phobias, especially with high-stakes interactions and a public-facing role.”

She also provides specific ways to overcome each professional fear.

Here are some of Haase's quick tips to help you keep your professional fears in check:

• Public speaking: Practice in front of friends or record yourself and focus on connecting with one person at a time.
• Prospecting (cold calls, door knocking, FSBOs): Use scripts and practice, make it a game, and reward yourself for sticking with it.
• Networking: Start small, aim for genuine conversations, and remind yourself that most people share the same anxieties.
• Managing client ghosting: Set expectations early, create a follow-up plan, and send friendly, non-intrusive reminders.
• Social media presence: Start with simple, authentic posts, respond to positive comments first, and prioritize consistency.

Check out Haase’s full post, which offer much more detail and tips to help you overcome those pesky fears that are holding you back in your business.

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