below, 360 degrees of l.a. subway by Masumi Hayashi

I've told my own hard lesson about projecting a positive professional image before here and here. 

There's nothing like a 360 review to get you thinking about why you're (pick one) not getting the plum assignments; being passed over for partnership; or, not winning the corporate "beauty contest."  There's a great Q&A over at HBS Working Knowledge with Laura Roberts, Assistant Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Harvard Business School on Creating a Positive Professional Image (before others do it for you).  Here's an excerpt and a link.  

Most people want to be described as technically competent, socially skilled, of strong character and integrity, and committed to your work, your team, and your company. Research shows that the most favorably regarded traits are trustworthiness, caring, humility, and capability.

Ask yourself the question: What do I want my key constituents to say about me when I'm not in the room? This description is your desired professional image. Likewise, you might ask yourself the question: What am I concerned that my key constituents might say about me when I'm not in the room? The answer to this question represents your undesired professional image.

My old friend and former legal associate, environmental attorney James Dragna at Bingham McCutheon, the best client developer in the business, used to say, "if people have the choice between someone competent they want to hang out with and someone they don't, they'll choose the guy [or gal] they trust and like."

Yes, you can improve your technical capability, but those other three qualities -- trustworthiness, caring and humility -- are choices we can make on any given day.  That's the good news.  Even if you never could get the punch-line to a joke right and don't care who the final four might be.