"When you're doing your best to be your best, sometimes you can forget this will hurt other people's feelings," observes Deborah Brown-Volkman, PCC, a career coach and president of Surpass Your Dreams. "They will get upset with you and can sabotage your success."

How can you be a whiz who's loved and respected? The key is to deflect the spotlight from yourself to your team, says Cindy Kraft, a CFO coach from Tampa. "The people who really grow and excel are those who embrace a team spirit, who give credit to others and who groom their successors," she says. "If you have someone hogging the spotlight and saying, 'It's all about me,' they may get a lot of attention, but they're going to generate a lot of resentment and they're not going to do their career a favor."

If you want to show your stuff without ruffling feathers, it's also important to know who really does what: While nearly every company has an official hierarchy, the real organization chart may not match it.

"In finance jobs, descriptions are almost meaningless," points out John M. McKee, author of 21 Ways Women in Management Shoot Themselves in the Foot. "You can have three vice presidents of finance, so one needs to know who is doing what in practice and principle."

If you're an introvert whose first instinct when faced with a problem is to head to your cubby and create a spreadsheet, force yourself to get out and really mingle. Invite coworkers for coffee or lunch and take time to really talk to them. "The more time you spend with people communicating and letting them know about the projects you're working on, the better," says Brown-Volkman.

Wading into (Torpedo) Water

Taking on a new role or a new job makes you especially vulnerable to being seen as the annoying whiz kid. "Trying to show off at the beginning of a job is a great way to injure yourself," warns McKee. "Some people are so anxious to show their skills that they fail to recognize there were people who've already tried to solve the problems, and people who wanted the job you got."

Coming in at a senior level? People expect you to make changes. "If you're going to stand out, when you're new is the best time to do that," says Brown-Volkman. "That's when people will be watching you, and it sets the tone for your working relationships in the future."

Before you start handing down fiats, go around, introduce yourself, explain what you bring to the party - and ask questions. "People who go into an organization asking a lot of questions from incumbents are often given the benefit of the doubt," McKee says. "They get wisdom shared and people expressing honest opinions about what works and what doesn't work." If you leave those initial meeting with your co-workers believing you're going to try and make changes that benefit everyone, they'll embrace your changes, he adds.

Even at junior levels, such meet-and-greets can be valuable. Focus on learning where the toes are so you don't step on any, following the chain of command and finding a mentor, says Brown-Volkman.

When you start working, listen more than you speak, suggests Peter Jacobs, a San Francisco career consultant. "Get the lay of the land, figure out who the players are in the organization, understand how things get done, shape and actively manage your personal brand, build a strong network and strong relationship with people who influence you."

Whether you're senior or junior, continue to nurture relationships and try to avoid making enemies, even when you're no longer the new kid, Jacobs says. "When you do have disagreements, engage with people, and don't let things fester. Give credit where credit is due when you work with people and build and maintain a reputation as someone who keep promises, gets things done and shares credit when appropriate."

And above all, keep in mind that thinking you're the whiz kid doesn't mean you actually are. "There's a difference between being good at your job and being a showoff," points out Brown-Volkman. "If you're good at your job, people will like that because they can rely upon you. If you're more fluff than substance, that will build resentment."

Originally published July 25, 2007

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