The goal? To stand out at work.

And there's no better time than the present to pull it off.  Although employment in Canada is rising, it's a slow process. And some employers are still feeling the pressure to do more with less. So when management starts looking at what and who needs to go, you never want them to look at your name and say, "Who's that?"

Instead, they should be saying, "This employee is valuable. He stays."

But what's the best way to become visible? Here are a few ideas.

Get verbal. In other words, when there's the opportunity to be a presenter, grab it. There's no better way to be noticed than to literally stand there for 30 minutes in front of a group of people and talk. And you're not just gabbing either. You're giving information. That instantly makes you the expert.

No one expects an introvert to suddenly want to present at a large conference. That's too nerve-wracking. So maybe you want to start small.  Say, offer to tell your colleagues about the new company kitchen rules. Just put yourself out there.

The same goes for meetings. If you have an idea, speak up. Because chances are someone else at that table has the same idea but is too fearful to say it out loud.

Finally, if you really want to stand out, be the kind of employee everybody wants to be around. Not only do you know your coworkers' names, you know their kids' names. And do you complain non-stop about the company? Nope. You come up with solutions.

If you do decide to take the initiative and find a few answers to problems that have been plaguing the company for years, draft them in writing and talk to your boss during a slower period. Not when deadlines loom.

And even if at first she's not receptive, chin up. The company is probably not going to jump on every idea you have, but you are showing people that you're willing to start the conversation about making things better.

And that willingness to speak and listen is a surefire way to stand out not just in 2012, but any year.