Top Ten Strategic Office Skills

Unsure if you can make it to the top of the corporate ladder? Worry no more, give yourself a break.

Guilty of being a procrastinator? Sometimes, we can't help but procrastinate from time to time. In fact, a lot of people who are in denial would just go ahead and practice these so-called "strategic office skills" to get ahead of being a procrastinator, but, what's the difference?
Always Carry a Document

They say that people carrying out documents as they walk around the office premise looks like they're into something big -- important meetings, conferences, etc. Above it all, carrying loads of stuff as you go home makes the impression that you work longer hours than you do.
Use Computer to Act and Look Busy

Technology is everywhere. Due to it's abundance, often times, it's being abused. In fact, in this strategy, using a computer looks like "work" to the casual observer. But the matter of fact is, you're actually using it when sending and receiving personal e-mails, chatting, surfing non-work-related stuff and building social networks. Warning: when caught by your boss, you can tell him you're teaching yourself to use new software, thus saving valuable training expenses!
Keep a Messy Desk

Keeping a messy desk makes the impression that there's too much to do. To the observer, last year's works looks like the same as today's work: it's volume that counts -- pile them high and wide!
Screen Incoming Calls with a Voice Mail

People don't just call because they want to give you something for nothing -- they call because they want you to do work for them! If somebody leaves a voice mail message and it sounds like impending work, respond during lunch hour. That way, it looks like you're hardworking and conscientious, when in fact, you're being a devious weasel.
Look Impatient and Annoyed

Looking impatient and annoyed always leaves the impression that you're under pressure and very busy, thus making it look that you're doing a lot of work.
Leave the Office Late

Guilty of this one? Me too -- always leave the office late, especially when the boss is still around. This makes a "good impression" that you're preparing the stuff you'll be doing for the next day, when in fact, you're just making the draft of the article you'll be submitting to Triond. On your way out, make sure you walk past the boss' room.
Create Sighing for Effect

Sighing sometimes make the impression that you are under extreme pressure. Extreme pressure equates to loads of work, thus making you look like a very hardworking person.
Stacking Strategy

Stacking a lot of working documents and files around your wokring area, not to mention, thick manuals and books, makes the "good impression" that you're not just a very hardworking employee, but also the type of employee who gives more that a hundred percent of himself.
Build Your Vocabulary

Read and learn from different sources like computer magazines and pick out all the jargons and what's new. You can use these words or phrases freely when in conversation with bosses. You don't have to understand the technicalities of the words, but using them gives you the impression of an intelligent person.
Have Two Jackets

Having two jackets comes along very handy if you work in a big, open office. Always leave a spare jacket draped over the back of your chair -- this gives the impression that you are still on the premises. You can then wear the second jacket while swanning around elsewhere.

Believe it or not, but in my past experiences with certian offices, I've practiced 7/10 (seven out of ten) of these strategic office skills. How about you?