Today, if you want to be promoted it’s not enough to knuckle down and work hard. Higher-ups within your department also have to perceive you as a dedicated, idea-generating top performer.

While you might think your achievements speak for themselves, you’ll only help yourself by doing some extra 'personal PR' to raise your profile. Use these tips to move your career forward:

Volunteer for new assignments, even ones considered difficult or risky. Challenging projects often offer the best opportunities to showcase your abilities.

Perhaps your manager just requested immediate help with an important initiative and nobody’s expressed a willingness to take charge. This is a great chance to demonstrate your leadership ability and secure a solid platform for your ideas.

Tackling tasks outside the bounds of your job description, especially during critical times, can earn you recognition from those who might otherwise overlook your day-to-day contributions.

Prove yourself to be enthusiastic and engaged by actively participating in discussions. Before entering a meeting, review the agenda and prepare a few points of interest related to the topics at hand.

Be willing to pitch your boldest solutions in brainstorming sessions. Remember that when times are tough, confident communicators, smart risk-takers and innovative thinkers are in demand; timid wallflowers are not.

If you work tirelessly behind the scenes but shy away from the spotlight, it’s time to move toward centre stage. While you don’t need to behave like a blustering braggart to get noticed, increasing your visibility does require strategic thinking, finesse and some self-promotional savvy.

Tactfully toot your own horn by periodically apprising your boss of your successes. Add muscle to your status updates by quantifying your contributions, linking your efforts to the positive impact they’ve had on the bottom line.

Put simply, a strong work ethic will always be vital to advancement, but you’ll never achieve your full potential unless others are aware of your expertise and accomplishments.