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Although it’s always important to stand out in a positive way at work, it’s even more of a career imperative in tough business cycles. Professionals whose accomplishments and talents are readily visible are more likely to be perceived as indispensable.

In today’s fast-paced accounting and finance workplaces, especially those that rely heavily on teams, it’s easy for even the most outstanding contributions to be overlooked or attributed to someone else. To prevent this from happening, professionals should be aware of the need to increase their visibility and earn recognition for on-the-job accomplishments. A fine line exists, however, between taking credit for your hard work and shameless self-promotion. These pointers can help you strike the right balance and keep your career moving forward:

Raise your profile.The adage, “out of sight, out of mind” certainly holds true in the workplace. Even if you work with superhuman energy and dedication, your efforts will be diminished if no one is aware of what you’re accomplishing.

One way to garner positive attention is to provide your manager with regular status reports describing your activities and results. For instance, if you received highly positive feedback from a client about an audit you managed, be sure to pass this information on to your supervisor along with an update that the engagement has been completed. Beware of going to the opposite extreme and communicating too often, however. Although you should keep your boss posted on your accomplishments, be careful not to inundate him or her with too many reports or an endless stream of business suggestions. Instead, reserve important information or ideas for times when they will have the greatest impact.

Without clamoring for constant attention, take advantage of additional opportunities to draw positive notices. An easy and effective way to do this is by speaking up in meetings. Be willing to share ideas and propose solutions to issues facing your department and to ask insightful questions. By speaking up publicly, rather than only in one-on-one discussions, you’ll reduce the possibility of your ideas being attributed to others. You’ll also demonstrate that you have self-confidence and are engaged in what’s going on around you.

Go beyond your job description. Another effective strategy is to seek out responsibilities that give you an opportunity to distinguish yourself. Pursue projects that complement your innate skills, offer you a chance to shine in a new way or allow you to work with influential people in your firm. Also volunteer to help your colleagues who would benefit from your assistance. Your goal should be to continually identify ways to enhance your visibility while also seeking to increase your value to your employer.

Get along. Although this pointer sounds like something you learned in kindergarten, it’s an expectation that still goes unmet in many workplaces. This is all the more reason why higher-ups notice and value team members who work well with others. Use your strong interpersonal skills to your advantage by being outgoing, conveying a positive attitude in your office interactions and showing an interest in others’ concerns – and not just your immediate coworkers or those you believe can help you. Get to know a cross-section of people in your organization by asking them about their responsibilities, backgrounds and other topics that most people are generally eager to discuss.

Although it’s not necessary to be your company’s social chairman, by building goodwill with people throughout your firm you’ll enhance your reputation as a valuable team member. Moreover, the individuals you meet who are casual office acquaintances today might eventually move into leadership positions and could have a say in your professional future.

Communicate effectively. Strong communication skills are essential for anyone wanting to stand out in today’s workplace. The most important attribute is the ability to listen well – not only to take in what people are saying, but to understand the nuances behind their words. In an age of pervasive electronic communication, it’s also important to convey information as clearly, concisely and professionally by e-mail as you do when interacting with others in person or over the phone.

Like most ambitious professionals who work hard, you want to be noticed and rewarded for your efforts. And in today’s intensely competitive business world, it’s simply smart career management to seize opportunities to gain credit for your contributions. After all, who is in a better position to look out for your career than you?