Don't try to be 'cool' at work, says expert: How to gain influence in the office instead

If you want to stand out at work, stop worrying about acting cool in front of your colleagues, says workplace expert Henna Pryor.

Instead of trying to manage other people’s perceptions of you, focus on building “credibility and connections,” and adding value to your workplace — whether that’s taking notes in a meeting or helping a co-worker with a presentation, says Pryor, founder and CEO of Philadelphia-based leadership coaching firm Pryority Group.

“Your own personal map for career success is heavily dependent on the areas that you’re enthusiastic about, on the natural strengths that you have,” Pryor says.

Young workers especially may try to mimic their popular colleagues, or people on LinkedIn whose posts get a lot of likes — but you’ll grow your career and gain influence at work more effectively if you spend that same amount of time building your own relationships and strengths instead, says Pryor.

“If you get too hung up on somebody that you put on a pedestal and the way they got there ... it will only take you so far,” she says. “Follow [your passions and strengths], not the path of a moving target of cool.”