Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

Put yourself in your boss’ shoes. If you were in charge, what kind of employee would you want? The quick answer: Someone in whom you had confidence and about whom you never had to worry.

There's a striking parallel between supervisors and parents: the more you tell them, the less they worry. By keeping your manager apprised of your progress and any related issues, you’ll be viewed as a problem-solver instead of a problem employee.

Determine how she wants to communicate. Does she prefer daily e-mails, weekly meetings, or monthly reports? Whatever she requests, make sure you deliver--on time. And don’t merely provide progress reports; also lay out any areas where you anticipate delays, especially if those delays will compromise her ability to deliver something to her boss.

Don’t hide bad news from your supervisor out of fear that it could make you look bad. The reverse is true; the sooner you can alert your boss to a potential problem, the more valuable you become--especially if you can suggest ways to mitigate any damage. Make it your practice never to point out a problem without following up with at least one reasonable solution.