How does your boss perceive you?

Have you ever wondered about how your manager perceives you at work? We don’t know how we’re coming off until other people tell us. Recently, I surveyed over 500 professionals on my blog and found that 92 percent are interested in how they are viewed by management. By knowing what you’re doing right and what you could be doing better, you can get promoted faster.

Here are three ways to become a more effective leader by controlling your perceptions and becoming more self-aware.

Ask for feedback regularly
Most companies have performance reviews for employees quarterly and annually in order to identify who should be promoted, remain in their current position or be laid off. Don’t wait — you need to ask for feedback regularly from your managers so that you can correct your behavior before these reviews even take place. When you ask for feedback, you’re showing that you care and want to improve.

Develop your emotional intelligence
CareerBuilder.com reports that 71 percent of employers value emotional intelligence over IQ. There are thousands of qualified candidates, but only a few that truly fit in the corporate culture. To develop your EI, you need to learn how to manage conflicts, become a team player, listen to what other people say before speaking, lead by example and keep your emotions in check.

Be mindful of your online presence
What you publish online and how you present yourself can affect how you’re treated at work — and if you get promoted. Think twice before posting personal messages online and configure your privacy settings so that your co-workers can’t see the next party you’re planning.

– Dan Schawbel is the author of “Me 2.0,” the Managing Partner of Millennial Branding, LLC and a personal branding expert. Metro does not endorse the opinions of the author, or any opinions expressed on its pages.