INPUT ARTICLE: Article: . Communicate with others in a way that lets them know your wants and needs while still respecting theirs. When being assertive, use "I" statements; facts rather than judgments; take ownership of your thoughts and feelings; and make clear, direct requests rather than phrasing them as questions to which people can respond "no."An example might be to say, "I have noticed that you often leave your dishes in the sink rather than putting them into the dishwasher. When I come home from work/school I get anxious when see them there, and I feel the need to clean the kitchen up before I can start making my own dinner. Let's come up with a timeframe for doing dishes that we can both live with." If assertive communication is new behaviour for you, be prepared for people who know you to be confused by the change. It may be helpful to explain to them that you are trying to change the way that you communicate. Part of being assertive means setting clear boundaries. The purpose of setting these is to protect yourself and also to give others a clear idea of what you are and are not willing to put up with. An example of setting a boundary might be, with an alcoholic relative, to tell them that you enjoy their company, but you do not like the way that they behave when they are drunk; as a result, if they call you or come over when they are drunk, you will hang up on them or not let them into your house. . Exuding confidence is largely about body language. When communicating with someone, some key things that you can do to appear confident include maintaining good posture, making eye contact, and being calm and positive. When standing, good posture means keeping your shoulders straight, back and relaxed, your abdomen pulled in, your feet hip distance apart, your weight balanced evenly on both feet, and your hands hanging naturally at your sides. In addition, you'll have a gentle bend to your knees (don't lock them), and your head will be balanced on your neck, not tilted forward, back, or to the side. Assertive body language includes facing the person to whom you are speaking; standing or sitting tall; avoiding dismissive gestures such as rolling your eyes or waving your hand as if to wave their response away; staying serious but pleasant; and maintaining a calm and non abrasive tone of voice. Mirroring the other person can help them feel more comfortable and may create a better environment for communication. To empathize with someone is to understand and share their feelings; to sympathize with them is to feel pity and sorrow for them. Expressing or eliciting sympathetic responses only reinforces victimized thinking. When you seek or give sympathy, you are seeking/giving pity. You might find that when expressing your problems, you encourage people to feel sorry for you by emphasizing how powerless you are in the situation. You might find that they offer solutions and/or even try to rescue you. The desire to rescue someone usually comes from a good place, but it also tells the person you seek to rescue that you don't believe they can help themselves. A sympathetic response to a complaint might be, "I feel so sorry for you. Have you tried XYZ?" When you seek or give empathy, you are seeking/giving support. Someone who offers empathy offers understanding without pity. A person who empathizes with you shares in your emotions but believes that you can help yourself. An example of an empathetic response to a complaint might be, "I can imagine how difficult this must be for you. What do you need right now?" When we act helpless and seek sympathy, we place ourselves in the position of victim and we ask others to be our rescuers. This is unfair both to ourselves and our would-be rescuers. An empathetic approach emphasizes mutual respect and the belief that we care about each other but know that we are capable of taking care of ourselves. If you're feeling angry, stressed out, anxious, or otherwise upset in some way, take a moment to calm yourself through breathing. Breathe in deeply through your nose, thinking of your breath as inflating your stomach, rather than your chest.

SUMMARY: Be assertive Set clear boundaries. Exude confidence Know the difference between empathy and sympathy, and avoid sympathy. Breathe.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Before you go through the whole trouble of trying to install the microwave, make sure it has all of the parts it needs. Nothing's more frustrating that getting right to the last step of installation and realizing you're missing a bolt or other part you need. The microwave kit should include a list of parts. Go through and check what's actually in the box against this kit. If your kit is missing any parts, return to the store you bought it from to exchange it, or contact the manufacturer to order the component you lack. Reading the instructions beforehand will give you an overview of the whole process. That way, you'll not only understand what each step requires, but also think ahead to what comes next. This will reduce the chances of making a mistake during the installation process. If the instructions ask you to use a technique you're not familiar with, consider contacting a professional for help. Since a microwave is an electrical appliance, you will need to take care to avoid electrocution or other damage. Before you start installation, go to your circuit breaker, and flip the breaker for the range to the "off" position.

SUMMARY: Unpack the microwave kit and check the contents. Read the instructions. Turn off the power.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: By providing support services to your employees, you can increase their happiness and help them be more satisfied members of your team. Support services can include psychological, social, medical, or other services. Consider: Providing superior compensation to what you currently offer. Providing your employees with health insurance that covers mental health. Allowing employees personal leave, time off, or adequate vacation. Appointing a manager or human resource officer whose job it is to hear workplace grievances and to deal with problems before they get out of control. Sometimes employees will make requests that may help to prevent them from becoming disgruntled. If you can accommodate an employee's wishes without compromising policies or profits of the company, then you may want to consider it. Make sure that you are honest with your employees about what types of accommodations are possible and what types are not. You should periodically review your employees' daily workload in order to make sure that their responsibilities are manageable. By making sure that your employees have manageable tasks, you'll take an important step in preventing your workforce from becoming disgruntled. Make sure some employees are not carrying the responsibilities of other employees. If they are, this could cause them to become unhappy. Make sure that your employees' daily obligations are not unreasonable or outside the scope of what is possible for them to complete. Consider increasing compensation if demands on the employee have increased and it is within the budget to do so. Showing appreciation for employees is another good way to prevent them from becoming disgruntled. Establish a mentor program for new or junior employees. Team them with more established employees that they can look to for guidance. Reward all employees when they meet a goal as a team. Always be positive to employees and encourage them to be positive to each other. If you think the employee will benefit, excel, or contribute to the organization in a different position, offer one to them. In the end, your employee may just be dissatisfied or feel unchallenged by their job. If you've determined the employee has a lot more potential and could improve the organization, promote them. Provide additional training for other positions within the company. If you think the employee is in the wrong division or department, transfer them to one in which they could excel. Always ask the employee their opinion before transferring or promoting them.

SUMMARY:
Provide support services. Try to accommodate your employees' wishes if possible. Give employees manageable tasks. Make sure every employee is appreciated. Promote and transfer intra-organization.