[cooldude]

1. SHOW BOUNDLESS ENTHUSIASM

Enthusiasm really is contagious, and smart employees realize the effect their attitude has on their mood and productivity. Constantly whining and complaining depletes valuable resources of energy. It's also a sure way to annoy the boss and sabotage your career. The most talented and intelligent employees will likely receive minimal recognition if they are known to be unmotivated or negative. Can you afford to take that risk?

The same situations presented to a negative and positive person are usually handled differently. An optimist looks forward to change and even problems with enthusiasm. It's all in your point of view and attitude-two things over which you have 100 percent control.

Being known as a person who sees the glass half full instead of half empty is refreshing and will surely impress your boss. To get this reputation, maintain minimal contact with chronic complainers. You know who they are-and so does your boss. You'll be judged by the company you keep, so don't give your boss any reason to think you're part of this crowd.

2. GET TO KNOW YOUR BOSS

Knowing your boss means being aware of his or her priorities and communication style. If your boss is a numbers person, quantify all your results. If your boss puts most of his focus on pleasing the customer, frame all your results in terms of benefits to customers. It comes down to speaking his language, and doing so requires that you invest some time in analyzing his preferences.

When deciding how to manage your time, focus on what's important to your boss. If you don't know what, ask! The best way to get maximum recognition for your work is to concentrate on the things that matter most to your boss.

Your preferred communication style might need to be modified in order to achieve an excellent rapport with your boss. If your boss likes e-mail, use it. If your boss prefers voicemail, then phone in your updates. Convey information to your boss in the way he prefers, keeping in mind that everyone has a detail tolerance level. Some people like a lot and some people like none. How do you figure out what your boss prefers when it comes to communication? Easy, just watch how he communicates with you.

3. SHOW INTEGRITY

Integrity shows itself in many ways and is a cornerstone of a strong relationship with your boss. Employees who consistently deliver on their promises impress bosses. If your boss must bring unfulfilled commitments to your attention, you can be sure it will result in resentment-not respect. One manager described his most impressive employee with the following statement, "When I give her an assignment, I immediately mark it off on my list as done!" Could your boss make a similar remark about you?

Integrity is also revealed by the way mistakes are handled. Excuse makers are a dime a dozen, and they rarely move ahead. Admitting weaknesses takes courage and self-awareness-two admirable qualities. If you don't know, say so. If you make a mistake, admit it. Then, take the important step of cleaning it up! Employees who refuse to accept accountability are very frustrating to bosses. People generally won't kick you when you are down. We all make mistakes, and it's refreshing to hear someone own up to his. If you stubbornly deny responsibility for your mistakes, however, you can count on a rude awakening-and a displeased boss.

There's a right way to "fess up" to mistakes. Rather than starting off with apologies, focus on what you learned. When your boss hears you say, "This project would have been more successful if we had done the following differently...," he'll be more impressed than simply hearing you say you're sorry.

4. BE A STAR TEAM PLAYER

When people spend hours together every day, there will inevitably be misunderstandings and tension. Bosses have hard jobs and don't appreciate those who make it more difficult by fueling the fires of interpersonal strife at work.

Successful employees "play well with others." They build a strong support system with their teammates in a number of ways:

* giving credit where credit is due, rather.than having a "me focus"

* refraining from gossip and unhealthy competition

* pitching in willingly when others are drowning in work-without being asked.

Everyone needs the support and assistance of others. Thus, it's foolish to burn bridges and alienate people you may need one day. Showing an inability to get along with others will virtually eliminate any chance you have of moving up into management one day yourself. The higher you go in any organization, the more "emotional intelligence" is expected of you, and this quality reveals itself by your ability to resolve differences between your co-workers in a mature and peaceful manner.

5. GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Those satisfied with the status quo always outnumber bold risk takers. Why? Much of the difference has to do with motivation. Ask anyone in a responsible position whether his or her success was achieved by being cautious and timid. It's highly unlikely! Chances are the person got out of his comfort zone and became more visible and respected as a result. Just showing up to work every day and doing what is expected of you is generally not enough to impress the boss.

There's a saying that opportunities often come disguised in work clothes. The message, of course, is that opportunities are everywhere for those willing to buckle down and create them. Successful employees look at the weaknesses within their organizations as avenues to show their skills and leadership. Their less-accomplished co-workers sit back and wait for opportunities to come to them on a silver platter. It rarely happens that way. What needs fixing at your organization? Why wait for "them" to take care of it?

Think of it this way: Bosses are ambitious people who recognize and admire that same quality in others. Ambition requires ample confidence to stick your neck out occasionally and take a risk. For example, you can volunteer for a challenging project or recommend workflows that are more efficient than "the way we've always done it around here."