Here are five ways prove your worth and get ahead at work from "The Office Coach:"

Be Proactive

This is the number one problem of new workers in the workplace. They spent their entire career up to this point in schools where they were spoon fed assignments and activities. They were always told where to go and what to do and now, suddenly, they're at a job and they don't know that they are required to think for themselves. Believe it or not, I've noticed it in some older workers too. We live in a different world now than, say, 20 years ago. This is a world of mergers, downsizing, technology that runs at the speed of thought. If you aren't in on it, you risk being left behind. One way to be in on it is to develop an innovative mind. Learn a process first, then see how you can improve it. Strive to understand more than just your job so that you can see how what you do affects others. Find new ways to make your boss's job easier and to make them look good. Do this, and you may find another partner on your path to success.

Be Confident

I learned early on, that if you walk into someone's office, look them in the eye and tell them what you want and why, that more often than not, you'll get it. Confidence is a position of power and it doesn't require that you always know every detail of what you are doing. Women are especially susceptible to this because many men are taught early on to stand up straight and look someone in the eye. Many women, on the other hand, are cultivated to be more submissive in their approach, more helpful. Now, I know this is a sweeping generalization, so please don't crucify me for it, but this is hundreds of years of human nature and I'm not sure how long it will take for women, as a whole, to completely eradicate this from our collective system.

Go Beyond the Call of Duty

When someone says, "That's not in my job description" unless they are talking about something like a request for prostitution or scrubbing the company toilet, it usually indicates to a boss that there is a lack of flexibility. It is a good rule to temper what your boss needs against what you can do. If there is a big project and your boss wants you to stay late but you have to get the kids by five, let him know that you want to help and that you are able to come in early for a few days to get it done.

Cultivate Mentors

One of the greatest lessons I learned working in corporate America is that you need a good mentor to put you on the right path. Mentors are those people who instinctively see your worth and are willing to take the time and effort to help you develop and achieve your goals. They have already made it and they are lighting the path for you because someone lit it for them and they realize the importance of both. It is important to not only cultivate mentors who you respect but to also pass this along to those who are newer at this than you, so that you have a whole range of support on both ends.

Walk a Mile in Your Co-workers Shoes

We know that there is often more than meets the eye in every situation, but we instinctively recoil when someone gives us a negative attitude or when they erupt for seemingly no reason at all. It's true, that some are just not nice people - but in the majority of cases, there is more going on there. The person who is willing to look beyond the reaction in a situation will be able to see the underlying causes. These are the problem solvers, the level-headed ones who are able to walk a mile in their co-workers shoes to solve an organization's problems. They prove themselves to be very valuable assets to an organization and enjoy the luxury of being able to speak their minds and the honor of being asked to do so. This is something to strive for.