It’s one of the great questions we ponder.  In order to be successful in the business world, your supervisors and colleagues must view you as a consistent contributor.  But assuming your boss isn’t someone who recognizes your achievements every day, how can you let people know what you’ve accomplished without coming across as an arrogant braggart?  Here are a few tips:

• Meet with your boss weekly to ensure she always knows the status of your projects. Show enthusiasm about what you’ve achieved, and your boss will think you’re passionate and excited about your job (in addition to competent).
• If you get an e-mail from an executive or colleague praising your work, check to see if he cc’d your boss.  If not, clip the e-mail, keep it in a folder marked “Positive Feedback,” and reference it when you’re putting together your performance review materials.
• When your team does an amazing job on a project you either led or worked on, send an e-mail thanking your colleagues for their hard work. CC your boss for double the points: he’ll think you’re a great team player AND a superstar employee.

I frequently tell the story of my first job, when I held a daily lockdown in my cube and churned out work like the future of the Middle East depended on it.  I hardly saw our Group Head, whereas my super-procrastinator colleague made sure the big guy was always in the loop.  When our immediate boss left the firm, guess who the Group Head tapped to take her place?  Not Ms. Super-Contributor, but Mr. Super-Procrastinator.  If you don’t assert your accomplishments, sometimes no one else will, and you’ll be out-promoted by people who might not have as much to offer but are smarter about leveraging their contributions.  Remember, it's not about what you do, it's about who knows what you do.