You may believe that to advance in the workplace, you need only show up and do your work. But today, with bosses juggling far more information with far less personal interaction, solid performance alone can’t guarantee you will move up the corporate ladder. Here are some ways you can toot your own horn—softly:

• Pay attention to your image. Do you do what you say you will do? Are you on time? Do you treat people politely? Common courtesy has become increasingly rare in the workplace, so bosses appreciate gracious, helpful employees.
• Do more than is asked of you. Bosses also notice and reward those who do more than their jobs require. So take on extra tasks and responsibilities, especially those your manager finds particularly onerous. Everyone appreciates an employee who’s willing to tackle the dirty work.
• Rally supporters. If you don’t feel comfortable extolling your own virtues, recruit colleagues to do it for you. Gently encourage them to speak up on your behalf. Example: “Jan, if you think any of my ideas are winners, would you be willing to say so in the weekly meeting? And I will do the same for you.”
• Build your reputation outside your organization. Raising your visibility often means becoming an expert in your industry. Network outside the office, speak at industry conventions, write for trade journals or offer yourself to the media as an expert.