Q. In my office, people come and go at all times — in early, or late, out early or late. We have clock watchers who are out the door at 4:59, and people who gab all day and then stay late when they could have finished their work earlier. Managers seem to think the people who stay late are hard workers, when some of us know otherwise. How can I make sure I get judged on my performance and not for just being seen at my desk?

A. Managing people and performance is not easy, and traditional management style focused on the amount of “face time’’ an employee spent in front of a manager, or behind a desk in an office. Technology has led to changes in management and the addition of more times and places for employees to be productive. And there are just as many chances to goof off.

While you watch your colleagues to see whether they are putting in as much time and energy on the job as you are, they are watching you, and managers are watching you all. Most managers are not as oblivious as many employees think. They are aware of who works hard and who works for show. What managers are looking for are results, outcomes, and contributions, and a sense of collegiality. It is not helpful for co-workers to display microaggressions directed at each other.

Many employees have arrangements with their managers that are not made public. Perhaps they leave before you and are online at night or over the weekend continuing their responsibilities. There are people who are online early morning, bring their kids to school, and are back at work after that. Managers recognize that getting the best out of their staff means being flexible, and not managing people in the exact same way. So what you see might be just a small portion of the contributions another employee might be making.

To make sure your work is recognized, make sure you communicate with your manager about what works for him/her, and for you. Ask questions about how to keep your manager up to date about the results of your work, and when to bring up challenges.

As hard as it is not to watch everyone else and their work habits, stay focused on your deliverables with a great attitude. This makes your manager’s job easier and creates a positive work environment. Most slackers don’t get away with that for long.

Elaine Varelas is managing partner at Keystone Partners, a career management firm in Boston.