How does RNA polymerase achieve higher processivity?
The structure in the presence of s (holoenzyme) is on the right; note the open channel for DNA binding. The structure in the absence of s (the core enzyme) is on the left.  Note that the channel is now closed, as if the fingers and thumbs of a hand now closed to make a circle. This striking conformational change that occurs when s dissociates is thought to confer high processivity on the RNA polymerase.

SOURCE: http://biowiki.ucdavis.edu/Genetics/Unit_III%3A_The_Pathway_of_Gene_Expression/10%3A_Transcription%3A_RNA_polymerases