The meek have not inherited the earth and it appears they won’t any time soon. So it’s no surprise that in today’s competitive workplace, hard work or keeping your nose to the grindstone is no longer enough to ensure success. You have to make sure your employer knows you are working hard. The people who get ahead are the ones who know how to get this across by being seen and heard. They don’t wait to be noticed. 

Here are some tips on how you can become visible at work, for all the right reasons:

• Decide the image you’d like to portray. 
  Ask yourself how you want to be perceived by your colleagues and boss. Don’t be noticed for negative reasons. Once you’ve decided how you want to be seen, make your image apparent in everything you do from the appropriate clothes you wear to your work relationships.
• Speak up! 
  Communicate clearly and directly. When in meetings, contribute to the conversation. If you have a good idea, share it, and make sure you get the credit for it. Just by asking smart, meaningful questions you can improve visibility. And find ways to let people know what you are doing. For example, if a colleague mentions a project you were involved with, interject with “Yes, I worked on that project and it was really challenging.”  Otherwise, they wouldn’t know you were involved.
• Build connections.
  Become a person who people want to work with. Network, volunteer, attend industry functions and trade association meetings, and share work-critical information. 
• Work hard but smart.
  Continue to work hard but be remembered for that work and your accomplishments. Work on a high-visibility assignment. Suggest changes to improve efficiency and help figure out how to make those changes happen. Be an agent to change, not an obstacle to it.
• Keep learning. 
  Take time to learn new skills and stay current with any areas of special expertise. As you gain new skills and knowledge, let your manager know.

The more visible you are, the more valuable you are to the company, and the more likely you will be remembered, especially at raise and promotion time. But take note – there is a difference between people who become visible for the right reasons and those who do anything to draw attention to them. Find creative and appropriate ways to let your workplace know what you do and how good you are. The reality is you must be your own best advocate.