Your bosses are watching to see how committed you are and how well you work with colleagues. With that in mind…

Stay positive

Executives love optimists, and they pay attention to the way you treat other people, from the CEO to the cleaning crew.

Don’t short-change yourself

Have a great idea? Present it as such. Don’t add disclaimers saying you may be off base. If you make a confident delivery, others are more likely to think your idea will work.

Forge alliances

If an exec has a pet project or is heading up a task force or outreach effort, offer your assistance – especially if the exec holds a position you’d eventually like to have. Even better: start suggesting initiatives yourself. Show that you’ve done your research on the subject and explain exactly what you can bring to the table.