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staff? By talking to them. Unfortunately, many managers don't talk to their staff enough. They don't know what to talk about or how to structure their conversations. 5 Communicate with FOCUS FOCUS is an acronym that describes the best practices in leadership communication. Communication between staff and managers should revolve around: • Feedback: Ensure your team is updated on company information, initiatives and new hires. Give praise when it is due, and maintain an open door for their questions, concerns or comments. • Objectives: The heart of sterling performance management is structuring specific and measurable job objectives and holding staff accountable for achieving them. • Career Development: Many studies list career development as a main factor that employees gauge to determine whether to stay with their current employer or seek a new position elsewhere. • Underlying Motivators: What does your staff need to go the extra mile, and how do they respond to motivational techniques and rewards? • Strengths: According to The Gallup Organization, those innate abilities that make them unique and good at what they do is the No. 1 predictor of success. The process of changing the way you hire and manage your staff may appear daunting at first, but experience shows that by taking it step by step, you can make significant changes quickly. The result will be a lifetime of more engaged, happier and more productive staff, as well as more free time, less stress and higher job satisfaction for yourself and your team. Are you up for the challenge? J Kim Seeling Smith is an international human resources expert and author of the forthcoming book, Mind Reading for Managers: 5 FOCUSed Conversations for Greater Employee Engagement and Productivity. With her expansive knowledge of human capital practices in today's market, Kim helps companies build healthy work environments and increase employee engagement and productivity in our digitally connected, globally oriented world. For more information on Kim Seeling Smith, visit igniteglobal.com. GIVE PRAISE WHEN IT IS DUE, AND MAINTAIN AN OPEN DOOR FOR THEIR QUESTIONS, CONCERNS OR COMMENTS. , Continued from page 21 The Social Age Evolutionary Workplace 22 / SEPTEMBER.OCTOBER.2014 RINKMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOS: BIGSTOCKPHOTO.COM