In retail, theres a direct connection between store manager performance and company performance. And in the midst of lower consumer spending, its never been more critical. Gallup Management Journals Retail and the New Normal article points to improving store manager performance with five steps to success including: #2. Find the right talent. Match the store manager role with people who have the right talent to perform the role at excellence. The article explains the closed loop process of quality of hire where manager roles are defined and skills of the high performers are matched to those of new candidates. This use of talent intelligence then drives better store performance and higher profit. Retail store managers are spread too thin; but optimizing the recruiting and performance processes on an efficient technology platform saves managers time and enables them to focus more on customer-facing operational tasks. Stores perform better with high-impact talent management and alignment, while the store manager spends less time hiring and more time selling.