INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You may have thought of a better way to split up responsibilities, but don't just nod your head in agreement and then keep on doing it the old way. If the organizational structure follows some standard , then get to know the standard. There's never going to be enough staff, time, money, space, technology, etc. for the workload. Understand how your boss has decided to mix and match these resources. Here's an example of where the team offloads work from the boss. Don't expect the boss to be equally effective in all phases of a project, all processes, all skills. Consider any project plan to be a framework and fill in the empty areas. If there are already metrics in place, use them and study the results. Yes, you can learn from disasters, but you'll need metrics to gradually improve your processes when you've eliminated disasters. If the team doesn't already have metrics, then invent your own and measure yourself. Create a metric, gather and analyze the data and study the results. Once the metric has served its purpose, turn to another area to improve - drop the first metric and start another. After the completion of every project have a debriefing of what went right and what could be improved. This would normally be the responsibility of a manager to set this up, but the team is perfectly capable of doing this on their own.

SUMMARY: Be clear about the organization structure, goals and your responsibilities. Understand the trade offs and balance among resources. Collaborate with other team members to complete project plans. Measure your performance. Make sure the team learns from its experiences.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you find a bunch of maggots in one part of your house, collect them with a broom and dustbin. Put them in a sealed garbage bag. Freeze them in the bag for at least sixty minutes. Then, put them in the outdoor trash can. Freezing is the most humane way to kill maggots. Use a broom to wipe the boric acid into the carpet fibers. A natural insecticide, boric acid should kill the maggots. You can purchase boric acid at hardware stores, large department stores or online. Thoroughly vacuum every nook and cranny of your carpeting. Pull out the vacuum bag and seal it in an airtight plastic bag or container. Freeze it to kill the maggots. Then, immediately put it in the outside trash container. Freezing is the most humane way to kill maggots. Purchase or rent a carpet steam cleaner from your local hardware or drugstore. Renting is usually relatively cheap and is an invaluable tool for getting rid of maggots. Make sure that the insecticide you choose is safe for your carpets and non-toxic to humans and animals. Following the directions on the label, mix the insecticide solution with hot water. Then, add it to your steam cleaner reservoir.  You can even use pet shampoo that contains an insecticide. You can use permethrin to remove indoor maggot infestations. Run the steam cleaner over all of the carpeted areas of your house at least twice to draw out the maggots and exterminate them. Dispose of the used water outdoors in a sealed container if possible.

SUMMARY: Collect the maggots and freeze them. Sprinkle boric acid over the carpet. Vacuum your carpet. Get a steam cleaner. Purchase an insecticide solution for steam cleaning. Steam clean your carpet.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You should always count out the change you receive after every purchase to ensure that you have been given the correct amount. It is easy for cashiers to make a mistake (i.e. mistaking a $20 bill for a $10 bill) resulting in less change than you are owed. In order to make sure that you are given the proper amount of change, you should always look over the change and make sure it matches the amount you paid.  Count up from the price to the amount paid to determine the correct amount you are owed in change. For example, if an item cost $2.75 and you gave $5.00, you should count out the change starting with $2.75. Count out 1 quarter to make $3.00, and then $2.00 to get to $5.00. The total change, therefore, should be $2.25. Use the calculator on your phone if you are in a rush or do not feel comfortable performing mental math. Depending on where you live, you may notice that you have received a few coins in a different currency. You should always make sure that the currency you receive as change is the same as the currency you initially paid with. For example, in Canada you will often receive U.S. coins as change. Although at times Canadian and U.S. currency will be at par, it is often slightly different. You should get in the habit of checking to ensure you receive the proper currency. A simple way to think about receiving change is to realize that the you should leave with the same amount as you gave, but some should be in the form of change and the rest should be in the product or service that you purchased. For example, if you bought a doll that cost $25 and you gave $40, you would exit the store with $15 worth of change and $25 worth of doll. When added together, that equals $40, the total amount you originally paid.

SUMMARY: Count your change before leaving the store. Check that you are given change in the correct currency. Make sure you leave the store with the same amount as you paid.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Teachers like to relax and have fun on the weekends just like you. Sometimes it might seem like they only exist to make your life miserable, but remember that they probably became a teacher because they like working with young people and love helping them learn.  Show interest in your teacher’s life. You can ask them how their weekend was, or what they have planned for summer vacation. Don't talk behind a teacher's back. They will probably find out after a while. Gossiping about the teacher will get you in bigger trouble. Imagine if you came into work and everyone around you had a bad attitude. That’s what it can feel like for a teacher with a room full of grumpy students. Acting friendly and being happy to see your teacher will brighten their day and help them feel appreciated by you.  A teacher can tell when a student is genuinely being friendly or just sucking up. Don’t go too far and start acting fake. Just a simple "Good morning!" or "Good evening!" is all it takes to brighten a teacher's day. You and your teacher might disagree about the grade you deserve in a class. However, your teacher has probably given your grade a lot of consideration. If you contest the grade your teacher gave you, they’ll think you care more about your grades than about the learning process. They also may feel that you’re disrespecting their authority. If you’re concerned that your grades are not what you wanted them to be, talk to your teacher about how you can get better grades next time. Teaching can be difficult, and teachers get tired, just like you. If you notice that your teacher could use a hand, offer to help out. They’ll definitely notice and appreciate your helpful attitude.  You can help your teacher by erasing the board, passing out papers, or bringing something to the office for them. If you arrive to class early, you can always ask if there’s anything you can do to help them prepare for class. If your teacher has not been treating you fairly, it’s okay to approach them about it. Ask them if you can speak with them during lunch or after school. Even if right now it seems that your teacher hates you, being able to have a mature conversation with them will likely turn the tide. Your teacher will see that you're invested in the relationship and in the class.  Act calm and respectful when you speak to your teacher. You can say, “I’m not sure if you’ve noticed this, but I feel that I’m not being treated fairly in class.” It’s great to be able to give specific examples so your teacher can see what you’re talking about. You can say, “When Maria made a joke and the class laughed, you laughed too. But when I made a joke and everyone laughed you sent me to the office. I don’t feel like that’s fair.”

SUMMARY:
Remember that your teacher has a life outside of school, too. Smile and act friendly. Accept the grades you’re given. Be helpful to your teacher. Talk to your teacher if you feel unfairly treated.