Organising your work-habits at the workplace can be a powerful tool in getting a promotion. So, if moving up the ladder is on your list of goals for this new millenium, don't wait for your next job performance evaluation to tell you where you will, or will not be climbing to next.

Start by taking the necessary steps to evaluate your job performance yourself.

In writing a professional, objective, self-evaluation, you will be able to address and make any changes necessary, before getting your company's report on your job performance.

If you are not able to do an objective evaluation, ask a mentor or friend to assist you, but be cautious. You need to choose a person that will tell you the raw facts and not tell you only what they think you want to hear.

Recognising your strengths and weakness will let you know if your friend is giving you a realistic evaluation.

In doing a job-related self-evaluation, it would help to review a copy of your last evaluation report. Carefully examining and answering the following can assist you with this task: Have you maintained the standards listed of your last evaluation? If improvements were recommended, have you corrected them? If a recommendation was made for a self-improvement course, further education, seminars and/or workshops to enhance your overall aptitude -have you taken any classes? If tardiness was a downfall -- are you more punctual? Reviewing your previous job performance summary will further assist you in concluding your self-evaluation: List all progress, improvement, and/or growth development you've made since the last assessment.

Without beating up on yourself, try to be slightly harsher in evaluating your own job performance than the one given by a supervisor; hence, a good signal, because it means you are performing above expectations. Doing this will enable you to be a part of the top producers.

To secure a promotion, it is of utmost importance that you have a positive attitude. With a positive attitude, employers may help you to improve your weaker skills. Trying some of the tips listed below, along with good general working habits, can help you get a promotion: Work smarter not harder -- organise your time efficiently to prevent over-extended yourself and getting very little done.

Be respectful -- respect generates respect -- the disrespectful troublemaker in an organisation is always left behind.

Advance yourself -- take any additional training offered and don't always sit idly watching television in your spare time. Keep abreast of what is happening globally -- read various business-related journals in and out of your job field.

Learn to avoid the gossip hotline -- remember every time its repeated the tale gets longer.

Do not, reveal any confidential information you are privy to anyone (this is one sure way of not getting ahead and losing credibility) -- this is a total breach of the `code of professional ethics' -- practice what I live by, I don't discuss any of my clients' confidential information with anyone, spouse, family member, colleague, friend nor especially foe.

Don't forfeit vacation time just to work more hours. Take time out to smell the roses. You may feel this is a sure way to promotion, but it can only lead to fatigue, which in turn spells work related stress and can render you to frustration, resentment and ineffective productivity.

In addition, look around your office, and pick out one of your successful colleagues. Write down what it is you admire about that person. In your evaluation, make sure you jot down her/his job performance and moral outlook and try to model yourself in the same manner.

Cindy Swan is a Professional Organiser with over 20 years of office administrative managerial experience and a member of the National Association of Professional Organisers. Her column appears in the business section on the first and third Thursday of each month.

Address inquiries to Cindy Swan, PO Box 304 St. George's GEBX or email her at organize y ibl.bm