4. No one ever talks to you about the future in a positive way.

Many of us feel we don't get enough positive feedback. In today's fast-paced environment, managers are often so overwhelmed that they fail to notice when someone could use a little praise. But there is a difference between not getting enough compliments and not having any indication that your boss or senior managers imagine you playing an important role in the company's future (something like "You know, you would be good for job X, one step up"). If no one further up the food chain says anything to you about the future, it could be a sign that the plan is to keep you in your slot—if you're lucky, and they don't need to make cuts.

Finding out that you're not on the fast track—or any track at all—can be painful, so don't press for more information than you can handle. When you're ready to deal with the worst-case scenario, ask for some time with your boss and say, "Here are two or three jobs I would like to grow into. What should I do to be ready for the next step?" If the boss says, "I think you're terrific, but the company needs to do better before we can offer you, or anyone, any opportunities," that's good news.