Show Your Employer You Can Be a Supervisor

While some people are content to remain in their positions without aspirations of moving up the corporate ladder, others use their cur-rent job as a springboard to the next level. Getting there, however, takes considerable effort on the employee's part to demonstrate how and why he's a better candidate for promotion than anyone else in the office. This quest for advancement means stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing the tenets of change.

~ Let your boss know you want to advance in the company and have him evaluate your performance. Ask for an honest assessment of your performance and find out which additional skill sets you need in order to move up. You should also ask about the company's goals and strategic initiatives so you'll know the best way to align your performance with future corporate aspirations.

~ Take on more responsibility beyond the scope of your current job. Volunteer to help colleagues with their projects, and step up to accept some of the tasks no one else wants to handle. Show initiative and the desire to learn by grabbing tasks before they're designated to you.

~ Become a sponge for knowledge. Develop relationships with and ask questions of different colleagues and department heads. This will demonstrate your desire to learn about the entire operation and provide valuable insight into the company as a whole. In addition, stay abreast of industry news and changes.

~ Learn your boss's routine, his primary goals and what makes him tick. The best way to do this is observe him in action, ask questions from time to time when he's not too busy, and pick the brain of colleagues who work directly with him. Cultivate his trust by following through on all workplace commitments. Be consistent, dependable and ambitious.

Originally written for and published by Demand Media