Creativity and problem solving are two of the least-talked about, but most prized qualities an employee can have. Employers expect professionals to do more than simply perform their standard responsibilities and react to miscellaneous tasks that arise.

During the course of the day tasks tend to pile up-even daily responsibilities are put off. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by deadlines and work volume. When your entire week is filled with simply performing duties and tasks handed down by higher-ups, you are being reactive. To advance in your career, you must find time to be proactive-to achieve goals beyond the daily and weekly to-do list. That is why it is important to schedule at least 30 minutes each week to do some creative, forward-thinking.

For this "proactivity session", try (if you can) to move away from your workspace. You can be most creative in an environment not normally associated with work (that's why we sometimes get the best ideas in the shower). This also draws your mind away from daily work that may be piling up, and eliminates the temptation to cut short this time and return to your tasks.

Part of being proactive is anticipating client/customer needs and demands. For example, a supermarket manager does not wait until the week of Halloween for his customers to ask for pumpkins, he orders them far ahead of time. An exceptional employee keeps his/her eye on the calendar and on industry trends to bring ideas or services to a customer or client before they request them.

Being proactive also includes imagining new ideas and solutions for your client/customer and your internal clients, your co-workers and supervisors. Important ideas may not always fall into the realm of client service-innovation in the workplace will also make you a valued employee. For instance, you may think of a new way for your company to market itself, or find a more efficient way of performing a common task.

Once you've had your creative masterstroke, it is easy to let these great ideas remain figments of your imagination. So many ideas that come out of brainstorming sessions or that come in a moment of inspiration are quickly forgotten. Get it down on paper-and start working on developing it as soon as possible.

Don't neglect your creativity on the job. Organization and hard-work are important skills that will get you far in your career. But a few bursts of inspiration, made possible by conscious planning, can gain you notice as an innovator-and on the fast track to promotion.