Ability, motivation, and direct contact with the supervisor influences employee performance. Ability relates to the mental, physical, and emotional condition of a person to do a certain thing well. Motivation and direct contact with the supervisor relate to setting goals, training, feedback, and the removal of performance barriers. A correlation also exists between education and the ability to perform successfully as a Florida law enforcement or corrections officer. Conduct most likely to impede success includes lying, stealing, physically abusing others, using drugs, absenteeism, and doing a minimally acceptable level of work. Recommendations, checklists, and 15 references (Author abstract modified)