Learning about website analytics is just one part of what I’ve learned over the years. Another part was learning about the working world. This career corner post is all about how to be a better employee.

Hold yourself accountable. Just because someone isn’t checking up on you or constantly pushing you to do your best, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t hold yourself to a high standard. When you do that, you’ll be taken seriously.

Come with solutions, not problems. Everyone has difficult days at work. If you find yourself needing some advice, try and come up a solution first. While not every problem will have a simple solution, thinking of a solution first will help stretch your strategic thinking skills.

Perception is reality. As much as we would like to think reality is reality, the truth is that perception plays a much larger role in our jobs than we think. Don’t be shy to talk about your recent accomplishments or the improvements you’re making to office procedures.

People are more likely to work well with people they like. While no one likes a brown-noser, make sure you’re kind to coworkers. Participate in office activities that allow you to connect with your team without talking about work. On that same note, don’t get a reputation as someone who is difficult to work with and don’t burn bridges. The business world is smaller than you think. You will gain very little by speaking negatively of old coworkers and employers or being a stick in the mud on every project you work on.

Looking for more career advice? Check out the other career corner posts, including how to start off in the workforce, how to advance your career, and how to be a better manager.