Avoiding office gossip and water cooler chats may seem like the more productive way to work, but building solid relationships at work is key to job productivity, says Tommy Spaulding, author of It’s Not Just Who You Know. Getting lunch or coffee with a coworker not only makes the day more fun, but helps you learn more about the people you work with. Don’t view it as “kissing up,” says Katherine Crowley, co-author of Working for You Isn’t Working for Me. “You never know when you will need a colleague’s help, assistance or support.”

Establishing contacts in your industry and finding people that you can turn to for advice and support is no easy task. “It takes a genuine effort to build these relationships, and even more work to make them last,” Spaulding says. Many people fall into the trap of comfort, and stop putting as much effort into expanding their network and broadening their horizons. He suggests reaching out to three former colleagues a week and meeting with one new person face-to-face each month.

Employers will often subsidize these memberships, so ask with your supervisor before taking out your personal checkbook for the (often steep) fees. “Belonging to professional organizations is insurance that you will be seen as an active player within your industry,” Crowley says.

Scheduling a meeting six months in advance of your annual review shows that you are serious about accomplishing your goals and getting things done, Prosek says. She recommends showing your boss your 100-day plan and asking for feedback. “Waiting a year to find out what he or she thinks of your work is a mistake,” she says. “It can get people off track from where they want to be.”