Article: If you have a lot of books, or a collection of figures you'd like to display, shelves can really make the space look sophisticated. You can purchase a book shelf, and secure it to the wall, or you can install shelves directly on the wall. You can then decorate the shelves with books, figurines, vinyl records, or a combination of many different things. Make sure you clean the shelves often, as they tend to collect a layer of dust rather quickly. For a more regal look, you can install wall sconces. A sconce is a decorative wall bracket for holding candles or lights. These come in a number of different designs, and may have electric lights or a place to install a candle that you can light. Installing one or two large sconces will give your wall a new look, especially if you also install a large portrait or photograph. Be careful when burning candles! Do not leave a lit candle unattended. If the wall is very tall, you can use tall furniture to help break it up. For example, by placing chairs or sofas which have high backs against the wall. These pieces will help break up the wall because they provide something interesting to look at, and take up some of the wall space. You can also try placing one or two tall plants next to the wall. These will have the same effect as the furniture, but make sure the plants can survive with the amount of light they will receive in that area. Be sure to keep the plant healthy and well-pruned! If the plant is brown and wilting, it will create an eye-sore in the room.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Turn it into a bookshelf. Install sconces. Place tall items in front of the wall.
Article: Lay the gun on its side with the open wheel compartment pointed upwards. It will be easier to load if it's not moving around constantly in your other hand. Press the roll onto the spokes of the wheel (or the round roller, if it's a single-piece design) until it comes to a stop. Be sure to load the tape with the loose end on top so that the sticky side is facing down. When properly loaded, the wheel should hold the roll firmly in place, which will prevent it from wobbling while you're using it. Rotate the tape roll until the loose end is hanging just under the roller at the front of the gun. You'll need to thread the tape through this small opening to finish setting up the dispenser. As you pull back on the gun, the tape wheel will turn and feed the tape into the front roller, causing it to unwind as it sticks. Take hold of the tab at the end of the roll. Pull it down first, then out the front of the gun and up. The tape should rest flat against the roller with no folds or wrinkles. Keep your hands clear of the blade while pulling the tape through. Some tape guns have a small lever near the handle that helps hold the tape in place. You may need to hold this lever down with your free hand until you've successfully loaded the dispenser. Continue stretching the tape until it's level with the blade. Press the tape against the blade and rotate the gun downwards to remove the section of tape you're holding. The dispenser will then be ready to use. Be careful not to come into contact with the blade while shearing the tape. Test the dispenser on a disposable surface nearby, like a piece of scrap paper or unused cardboard box. The tension knob determines how easily the tape unwinds. If you want to tighten it, twisting it clockwise will add a little extra resistance. To loosen it, twist it counterclockwise and the wheel will rotate more quickly. Perform a couple of trial runs with the gun to get it calibrated just the way you want it. Not all handheld dispensers come equipped with adjustable tension knobs. You may have to make do with the standard settings on inexpensive models.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Set the tape gun on a flat surface. Slide a fresh roll of tape onto the tape wheel. Line the tape up with the roller. Guide the tape up and over the roller. Cut off the excess tape. Adjust the tension knob.
Article: One of the worst things you can do as a supervisor is to doubt your own abilities. If you're new to supervising others, recognize that you will probably make some mistakes along the way, but that does not mean you are not a good leader. Cut yourself a little slack, but then commit yourself to doing the best you can. Keep in mind that you were hired to be a supervisor because your boss believes that you are capable of doing the job! Now you just have to prove your boss right. Don't let yourself believe that bosses never make mistakes. Nobody expects you to be perfect except yourself. It's important to give your employees a good example of model behavior. Just because you are in charge does not mean you no longer have to abide by the rules. If you are hard-working, committed, and ethical, your employees are more likely to be that way too. Remember not to let your new-found power go to your head. It's important to respect your employees if you want them to respect you in return. Your attitude is just as important as your actions. Always be friendly and professional. It's important that your employees know what to expect out of you. Be sure to always lay out the rules and expectations to new employees and to enforce these policies consistently. If there are changes to the policy, make sure the employees understand them. Try to keep your emotions under control as much as possible. Always treat employees fairly, and don't favor one over another. Good supervisors can't be completely stuck in their ways. They need to be willing to recognize when a specific approach isn't working and make changes accordingly, even if it involves admitting that they were wrong. You also need to be able to adapt your management style to the needs of different employees. Some employees may flourish under hands-on management, while others may benefit from more freedom. It is your responsibility to recognize these needs and react accordingly. This does not mean that you should have different standards for different employees in the same role. While you may want to customize your approach to each employee's working style, you still must be consistent in your expectations and disciplinary measures. As the supervisor, you are responsible for your whole team. If you miss a deadline or lose a client, don't point fingers and blame others for the mistake. Instead, evaluate the role you played, admit your own mistakes, and come up with a plan to avoid making the same mistakes in the future.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Have faith in yourself. Lead by example. Be consistent. Be willing to change. Be accountable.