Dealing with office politics.
	Handling stress on the job.
	Inserting self in meetings.
	Dealing with boring, frustrating, time-consuming meetings.
	Managing procrastination.
	Managing time better.
	Corporate socializing.
	Getting and using a mentor.
	How to fire someone.
	How to handle being given too much work.
	Earning the respect of more senior management.

Strategy to go forward:

	First and foremost, do exemplary work. Have a solid reason to want management to pay attention to you as well as a solid reason why they will want to. If you are really smart in managing relationships upward, you will keep people apprised of what you have done or are about to do.
	Do not think that good work will speak for itself. It should, but it doesn't. Quantify your contributions and let the right people know. If it's fact, you are not tooting your own horn but rather making it easier for the boss to understand your work. In a succinct, clear manner, state the situation, explain what you did, and report the results. This can be done on e-mail, on the phone, in a note, or in the hallway. Just make sure you do it consistently.
	Try to share credit wherever you can. Enthusiastically and sincerely ask, "How did you do that?" You might learn some-thing valuable.
	See possibilities, not limitations, in making sure your accomplishments get noticed in an appropriate way.
	Raise your positive visibility by real acts that produce results management wants. (Allow your name to be put in for commit-tee chairs, join business or trade groups, volunteer to be a company or industry spokesperson, apply for awards, share the spotlight with others, write an article for a company publication, get involved in community events, and so forth.)
	Acknowledge others (upwards) the way you would like to be acknowledged by them.
	Pay attention to how your boss and your boss's boss handle themselves physically. How do they dress? What symbols of power do they have around them? Observe what types of people they surround themselves with? (Your boss may have a dismal presence himself but expect something else from others.) Take on the corporate traits you observe. Consistency is important if you choose this route, for example, staying late or coming in early, or sending thank you notes and letters of praise—with sincerity, of course.
	Get a reputation that supports the way you want to be perceived. Use theatrics, "fake it before you make it" if necessary. (Just be careful not to fake competence, results, values, integrity, and other critical things.)
	Get a reputation for being quick to "get up to speed" on things. Give what the boss wants in the way she wants it. Be alert to changes in her situation. The bottom line: Do something unexpected but deeply desired by your boss.
	Size up the boss. Find out how he or she views results, recognition, praise, power, personal integrity, communication, family, etc. Find out by asking.
	Ask questions in an inquisitive manner, not an interrogatory manner. Ask. Observe. Ask more.
	Don't be afraid to say "no" even to superiors. If you take on too much and end up doing poor work, missing deadlines, or burning out, you'll both lose. It's a good idea when you say no to someone to give the person something in exchange that you can and will do. For example, "No, I can't take on project X, but I will help Joe complete project Y."

Do a little today, a little next week, and keep at it. The secret to getting ahead is getting started.

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