Successful (not smug) self-promotion

You might be able to talk shop for hours, but singing your own praises can be much harder. "Done strategically, self-promotion is imperative," insists career specialist Annemarie Cross, who suggests a fail-safe formula. "Just remember the acronym CAR: explain the Challenge to provide context, such as, 'When we were working in this situation ...'; go on to the Action, '... these are the things I implemented ...'; and then the Result, '... through that we were able to save 20 per cent ...'" That way, your successes will speak for themselves. Worried you'll seem smug? Career coach Mary Berkopec advises splitting praise - accept 70 per cent for yourself, and pass on 30 per cent to your colleagues.

Criticism that earns results - not enemies

Giving critical feedback to a colleague or employee doesn't have to be an occasion to cringe - as long as you've laid your groundwork correctly. According to Dr Lois P. Frankel, author of See Jane Lead (Little, Brown, $24.95), the 7:1 rule - giving people seven pieces of positive feedback for every developmental criticism - will stop them from seeing you as a fault-finder. "It takes the attack out of it," agrees Berkopec, "and if you finish off with a piece of positive feedback, it will leave them on a high rather than focusing on the negative." Just make sure your message is clear - so they take away the criticism, as well as the praise.

Getting the right message across

What you say is important, but how you say it can matter even more. According to Dr Frankel, how you look combined with how you sound "comprises more than 90 per cent of the perception of your credibility". Avoid qualifiers, like "perhaps we should" or "maybe it would be better if", which weaken your message. Similarly, talking through options rather than giving an answer makes you seem ambivalent - so opt for a direct response. And rather than rushing in with an answer, "practise counting to three before replying to a question", says Dr Frankel. You'll appear thoughtful, self-confident and you'll hold everyone's attention.

Be a boardroom hero

Meetings, whether team catch-ups or boardroom presentations, are an opportunity to make your mark - and Dr Frankel's rules will ensure you're noticed for all the right reasons. First, try to sit next to the most powerful person in the room - you'll appear comfortable and confident. Next, lean forward slightly, resting your forearms on the table with hands lightly clasped. "It makes you look more involved in the conversation," she says. Then, be among the first three people to speak; you don't need to offer an opinion - a legitimate question works, too. "Those who speak early and often," says Dr Frankel, "are seen as more credible, greater risk-takers and possessing more leadership potential."

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