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Is your job dragging you down?  Do you feel that you’ve been passed over for promotion even though you are eminently qualified?  Perhaps you’ve found that others are taking credit for your hard work.  Or maybe you are simply at the mercy of an overbearing boss.  Whatever your reasons for hating your job, you at least realize that it won’t be much better anywhere else.  But the problem is not your boss, your coworkers, your company, or the corporate world at large.  The reason you’re unhappy in your job is YOU.  And it’s mainly because you have not been taught how to get what you want.  But with just a few tips and tricks under your belt you can get the accolades you deserve, secure the promotion you’ve been working for, and realize a level of job satisfaction that currently seems unattainable.  Here’s how you can thrive in the workplace.

1. Join the team.  Your first step is to become a part of the team.  You are not employed by this company for your own benefit (although you do receive a paycheck).  You’re part of a larger group that is working towards a common goal.  If you fail to integrate yourself into the group you’re not likely to advance amongst the ranks (or keep your position for very long).  And you certainly won’t have the benefit of feeling like you are included in the shared success of the company as a whole (in other words, you’re missing out on the emotional benefits of mutual recognition).
2. Manage your time.  If you’re often overwhelmed by your workload, to the point where it is hampering your ability to meet deadlines, then perhaps part of your problem is time management.  If you want to be successful in the work environment you need to spend less time updating your Facebook profile and more time setting (and following) a schedule.  Keeping an up-to-date appointment reminder (our business), deadline calendar, and milestone marker will help you to reach your goals in a timely manner.  And there’s nothing wrong with scheduling in breaks throughout the day to hit the head, eat lunch, or simply clear your head with a mind-numbing game of Bejeweled.
3. Track success.  When it comes time for promotions to be handed out, nobody is going to remember the project you did eight months ago that saved the company millions of dollars.  You’re going to have to toot your own horn here, so come prepared with a list of your past successes and a plan for future ones that will help you convince your superiors to give you the title and salary increase you deserve.
4. Ask for what you want.In the corporate world you can pretty much expect that you’ll be ignored only so long as you don’t make any noise.  If you want something (a promotion, a raise, a chance at working on a particular team or project) you need to ask for it.  You might not get it just by asking, but you almost certainly won’t be considered if you stay silent.
5. Adopt a positive attitude.  One of the best tricks to thriving at work is to make a conscious decision to do so.  Let the small stuff roll off your back and you’ll find that you get along better with colleagues and feel better overall, which will reflect positively in your interpersonal interaction, both at work and at home.  Becoming a more relaxed and confident person will help you in all areas of life, but most especially in an otherwise stressful occupation.