Know the business you're in. Be very familiar with daily operations and benchmarks, industry leaders, common challenges and what differentiation your company has in the market. Read trade journals and online news posts regarding your field. Join conversations in the work place with administrators whose knowledge you can gain from.

Act like a boss to become a boss. Show initiative and a desire to learn and grow, but never show up your boss, try to make him look bad, or make him feel that his job may be challenged. As the saying goes, dress not for the job you have, but for the job you want.

Be curious and proactive. Seek out the opinions of employees - what they do and do not enjoy about the company, what their concerns are, and how things could be better.

Volunteer to take on more responsibility when the opportunity arises. This can lead to involvement with new people in your company, and additional exposure to more people, including managers, means more people who will witness your work ethic and management style - benefits that could very well lead to your next move up the ladder.

Work independently as much as possible, to gain more rigorous experience and recognition for the work you've done. Your ability to do this will be reliant upon your supervisor's management style, and how short your leash is. Even if your boss is a micro manager, you may be able to work more independently simply by expressing an interest in growing professionally.

Always be a team player. Whether you're a peer or a supervisor to someone, being on the same playing field and working well with others will gain you respect - even when you become the boss.