This article is written by Shari Medini For more on this topic, check out the full Career Success collection

Women are changing the corporate world in so many ways. We value honesty, kindness, balance, integrity, & high quality work. We want it all, but we won’t stoop too low to get it. We understand that getting ahead in business doesn’t have to mean that you leave a trail of destruction behind you.

Here are 5 (nice) ways to get ahead…

1. Show Your Value

I didn’t say that being nice means not working hard. It is exactly the opposite. If you want to get ahead, you need to work hard, follow directions, & show your value. You don’t have to brag about yourself, or make others look bad. You just need to prove yourself (time & time again), & eventually you will be rewarded for it.

2. Don’t Beg

When you are first starting out, it is tempting to go begging for readers, sales, promotion, etc. But the best & most sustainable type of growth is organic. If you are working hard & proving your value, people will start coming to you. No one likes to be bothered. No one wants to feel obligated to support you. They want to support you b/c they believe in you… give them a reason to believe in you.

3. Pursue Opportunities

So you are working hard & leaving people alone. But how are you going to grow if no one knows about you & your products? You are going to seek out opportunities & go after them. You are going to follow your heart & say “yes” to whatever comes your way that seems like a good fit. You are going to go after opportunities that might seem just out of reach, but you are going to get them & do well at them. Let the other people tell you “no.” Don’t defeat yourself before even trying.

4. Be Reliable

Do things when you say you are going to do them. Meet deadlines. Show up to meetings on time. Give realistic estimates. Be honest about your capabilities. All of those things are so important when trying to get ahead. You want people to be able to count on you, & you want them to genuinely enjoy working with you.

5. Be Nice

Don’t worry about being too nice! Compliment people, “Like” their social media posts, congratulate them on accomplishments, give helpful advice when they ask for it. Doing this will keep you in the front of people’s minds, & if an opportunity arises where they can help you in return, they will think of you in a positive way & help you get that connection, job, promotion, etc.

*For more on this topic, check out the full Career Success Collection*