Men need to get better at gossip

Men need to get better at gossipMen need to get better at gossipMen shoot the sh-t or talk sh-t or bullsht. Women gossip. This is a commonly accepted notion of gendered behavior that may actually hurt men more than women. Why?Gossipingis an effective form of unfettered communication used to exchange information, assert dominance, andbuild trustin relationships. Gossip can be and often is negative, but research shows that men are more likely to lose friends and influence people (the wrong way)when attempting to make risque jokes. And gossip has real upside. Theres a reason men who decline to gossip - for moral reasons or reasons related to their conception of masculinity - in social and professional settings tend to be less informed.Gossip has gotten a lot of bad publicity. But the definition is merely casual or unmonitored conversation of others, says psychotherapist Janet Zinn, adding that it doesnt have to refer to throwing people under the bus and offering some good news. Men go ssip a lot more than perceived. They tend to gossip in ways that indicate that they can connect with others.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreStill, there are some psychological reasons men may be less eager to engage in gossip than women. Men tend to be more predisposed to physical hierarchies both biologically and socially, whereas women seek status in more social and relational ways. From a young age,boys tend to roughhouse moreand improve their standing through athletic wertzuwachs and physical prowess, whereas girls share secrets, spread rumors, and generally speak their way to power. Still, the bulk of data on this sort of gendered performance comes from child development research. Few studies have examined how gossip actually plays out among grown men and women.A recentstudyaddressed this gap in the literature by looking at how 467 people gossiped. Instead of relying on pa rticipants to self-report their gossiping habits, they wore portable recorders that randomly recorded about 10 percent of what they said per day. When researchers analyzed the audio, there were over 4,000 instances of gossip categorized as either positive, negative, or neutral. They found that men engaged in just as much negative tear-down gossip as women, but women engaged in more neutral gossip related to sharing information.Zinn and clinical psychologist Tricia Wolanin, who were not involved in the study, suspect that men may engage in more negative tear-down gossip as a shortcut to achieve status as well. If the goal of gossip is simply status, then tearing down others to build themselves up may work in the short term. In the long term, however, it will almost inevitably create problems and earn those prone to this behavior a bad reputation. Better to balance the mean stuff with pure information sharing.Men have this inclination to gossip, sometimes as a means to connect with ot her people, Wolanin says. When guys talk trash and share secrets, it builds trust, closeness, and can just be a lot of fun. Still, there are healthy ways to pursue healthy social behaviors.If the goal is strengthening connections - and it should be - men should turn up their neutral gossip game. One way to do this is to gossip about strangers. For instance, discussing a professional athletes signing bonus is a solid form of gossip. (Theres a reason that sports guys often seem more comfortable hanging out.) Another way is to gossip about information thats helpful or beneficial to another party, such as in the workplace when someone is being mistreated. Gossiping about kids and other parents can also be an important outlet for any mom and dad to stay sane.The bottom line is if men are going to dish it out, its best to do it in a benign enough way that they shouldnt worry about being gossiped about in turn. Their partners, after all, are probably talking about them behind their backs .Gossip can turn detrimental if we are opting to partake in defaming another, hurting their reputation and those around them, Wolanin says. It can be detrimental if we opt to gossip more about others than taking action in our own lives.This article originally appeared on Fatherly.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

How to Make Your Next Job Change a Success

How to Make Your Next Job Change a SuccessHow to Make Your Next Job Change a SuccessMost of us likely feel grateful that changing jobs is a temporary occupation. Once you land a new position, you can turn off email alerts about jobs in your field and stop writing cover letters. But, even if youre happily employed at a stable company, or just landed a new position, theres still plenty you can do to make your next job search easier. Making Your Next Job Change a Success From writing down accomplishments (to make resume updates easier later on) to broadening your network, theres plenty you can do while in your current position to make your next job search easier. Here are seven strategies to try. 1. Track Your Accomplishments Get in the habit of bedrngnising down your accomplishments and any additional responsibilities that get added to your regular to-do list. One thing that can make updating a resume challenging is that its hard to remember to remember the day-to-day details, like that two summers ago, you made a vital contribution that helped the sales team land a big contract. Make it easier on your future self Using a notebook or the notes section on your phone, keep a running list as these events occur. Not only will you be grateful for it a year-end review (or if you want to ask for a promotion), but itll come in handy if you leave the company abruptly and dont have access to your work email. 2. Learn New Skills Is there an opportunity to learn a new program or system? Get trained on how to be a good manager? Take advantage of these moments as well as projects that will help develop and broaden either your soft or hard skills. This will be helpful fodder for your resume and improve your overall hireability when you apply for a new role. To hiring managers, a candidate who shows initiative in learning new things - and one who does not require a lot of training - is quite appealing. 3. Broaden Your Network Think of your office as a networking goldmine. Wo rking with the same people gives you an opportunity to show who you are as a worker (and to make connections while talking about TV shows by the coffee pot). Take advantage of these opportunities to connect, and look for ways to interact with people outside of your department, too. Basically, you want to show your face - not just in your cubicle, but around the office and during social gatherings. This might mean spending at least some of your lunch hours in communal areas, instead of eating at your desk or running errands. 4. Connect on Social As you build relationships, connect with people on LinkedIn. You can do this early on - no need to wait until you kick off a job search to connect with co-workers. With these connections in place, you can easily keep intouch if you - or others- leave for a different company. 5. Build a Good Relationship with Your Manager If theres one rolle you want to get along with, its your direct supervisor. Do everything you can to be in alignment and h ave a strong, positive, productive relationship. A good manager will help you achieve your goals, from recommending you for interesting projects (which will look good on your resume later) to advocating for your promotion. 6. Do Your Job Well Sounds like a no-brainer, right? Taking your current role seriously, doing your work enthusiastically, and thoroughly, will all improve your chances of being visible in your company (more on that below). Plus, if you are engaged with your work, and do it passionately, youll have lots of meaningful anecdotes to share during subsequent job interviews. You wont be searching for examples of successful projects and relationships with team members. 7. Make Sure People Know When You Get Things Done OK, this is a delicate line. Nobody likes a braggart, after all. So you shouldnt boast about your accomplishments. But you also shouldnt be so modest that no one realizes that you did something meaningful or instrumental. One way to get your accomplishments acknowledged Let your manager do the heavy lifting for you. Share details with your manager (in a factual, not boastful way) and allow them to send emails praising you, or note your contributions in meetings and conversations with other higher-ups. The reason you want people to be well aware of what youre getting done at work is so that youll be remembered by colleagues and seen in a positive light. This will make them feel comfortable serving as a reference and also referring you for positions.

Special Operations Command Fitness Tests

Special Operations Command Fitness Tests Special Operations Command Fitness Tests Training hard to excel in fitness tests to is a must to become a special operator within the ranks of the Special Operations Command (SOCOM). Its not atypical for selection programs to require over a year of continuous training. Additionally, each branch  of service and their special operations ground units have differing criteria. Army To enter Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS), candidates must pass a  three-week test begin the Special Forces Qualification Course (Q Course): 50-meter  swim with full gear including bootsPushups, two  minutesSitups, two  minutesPull-ups maxTwo-mile run After this test, you will immediately begin other very physical events such as ruck marches, obstacle courses, a large variety of calisthenics, log PT, and running. This will continue for three weeks during SFAS and involve other tactical skills such as land navigation, problem-solving, patrolling, and teamwork. 75th  Army Rangers Regiment - To become an Army Ranger at a Ranger Battalion or the 75th Ranger Regiment, you must qualify to attend Ranger Assessment and Selection Program (RASP). This is an eight-week course that prepares soldiers to become operating members of the 75th Ranger Regiment. Some of the physical requirements and tests you will be required to take within your first few days of Ranger Assessment are the following: Army Physical Fitness Test (PFT) with a five-mile timed runCombat water survival testDarby Mile Run eventFive-mile runsTerrain runs and obstacle courses  12-mile foot marchNight and day land-navigation tests Recommendations: Get used to rucking and load-bearing exercises. The rucking, decreased calories per day, and land navigation are a few of the challenges many students endure. Navy Navy Sea, Air, and Land Teams (SEALs) candidates attend Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training (BUD/S)  in Coronado CA. To get accepted into BUD/S, the Navy Physical Screening Test (PST) must be mastered. Officers and enlisted students attend the same course;  however, the officers must also attend a pre-BUD/S selection program called SEAL Officer Assessment and Selection (SOAS). Navy SEALs, Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC), Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EODs) and divers all must master the following fitness test to get to the training: 500-yard swim - using the combat sidestroke or breaststrokePush-ups, two  minutesSit-ups, two  minutesPull-ups, max reps1.5-mile timed run Air Force Air Force Combat Rescue/Pararescue (PJ) units take the Physical Abilities and Stamina Test (PAST), which includes: 2 x 25-meter underwater swim  (Pass/Fail)500-meter surface swim  - Any stroke but backstroke1.5-mile run  Pull-ups,  max repsPush-ups, two  minutesSit-ups, two  minutes Initial Training Phase:  Once in the PJ and Combat Control Team (CC)T  Candidate Course, you will be challenged physically for ten weeks at  Lackland AFB. The first phase is known as Team Training and is eight weeks long. It consists of extensive physical training with swimming, running, weight training, calisthenics and obstacle courses. Educational training such as medical and diving terminology, CPR, weapons qualifications and dive physics are also part of the Candidate Course. After this course, the PJ and the CCT pipeline splits as one will attend the combat medic course, and the other will attend the air traffic controller course. Officer Selection Course and Standards:  Air Force Special Tactics and Combat Rescue Officers within the Air Force Special Operations Command have to pass a similar PAST. However, it is longer and considered tougher and more competitive as the slots to become a Special Tactic Officer (STO) or Combat Rescue Officer (CRO) are highly competitive and few in number. Here is the advanced PAST the officers have to take: 2 x 25-meter underwater swim  (Pass/Fail)1500 meter surface swim  - Any stroke but backstroke.Three-mile run  Pull-ups,  max repsPush-ups, two  minutesSit-ups, two  minutes Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps is part of the Special Operations Command and have created the Marine Corps  Forces (MarSOC) Raiders after seeing the need to create high-level special operators capable of todays sensitive special operations, counter-terrorism, and foreign internal defense missions. To enter into the MarSoc Raider training course, you have to ace the USMC PFT of the following: Crunches, two minutesPull-ups, max repsThree-mile timed300-meter  swim with utility uniform (cammies) top and bottom (no boots)15 minutes total of treading (11 min) and floating (4 min) test while wearing/using inflated cammies Making it to special operations training programs requires you to specifically train for a fitness test. In this case, it is the standard USMC PFT, including pull-ups, crunches and a three-mile run. It is important that your basic program addresses this basic physical fitness test. It is fine to lift, swim, ruck, shoot guns and practice land navigation, but if you cannot ace this fitness test, you will not be granted orders to any of the advanced training programs. Pre-Training Acing the fitness test/building a foundation of fitness so your body can handle the actual training (Boot camp, School of Infantry (SOI), Basic Recon Course (BRC), RECON, MarSOC Selection, etc…) is the specific focus on training you must have during your pre-training/recruiting process. This process can take at least a year depending on your starting fitness level, or as little as half a year months depending on your athletic history. Regardless, you do not want to go to any training program without having reached near the maximum standards of the fitness requirements. Otherwise, the likelihood of injury, failure, and other delays are certain. You have to “train for the training.   Following this entrance exam, all ranks of 0-4 and below have to excel in a 3-week central assessment and screening that is overseen by Marine Special Operations School (MSOS). It is pretty standard physical and tactical testing for Special Operations Community under US-SOCOM operational control and heavily weighed in the students operational skills. Air Assets The Special Operations Aviation Units, such as the Army Special Operations Regiment (SOAR TF160) and the Air Force Special Operations Aviation, are a major part of SOCOM and are an invaluable asset to the above Special Operations ground units. 160th SOAR(A) Green Platoon is the assessment training program you must excel in for six weeks. It is an advanced physical training program that teaches the basics of being a soldier with advanced first-aid techniques, combatives, land navigation, and weapons training.   You have to score well on the Army PFT to attend the course, as well as be prepared for the following other challenges of the six-week screening program: Army PFT4-6 mile runs4-10 mile road marches with a  45-pound rucksackRope climb/pull-ups