If you've got a CEO or senior manager who's open to chatting about things, this could be your big chance to make a good impression.

Whether it's breakfast with Ben, dinner with Donna or an employee business meeting where the boss makes herself available to talk about what's on your mind, this is much more than a chance to find out whether the company will pay for parking.

Most people blow the opportunity. I've witnessed this first-hand in company-wide meetings where the CEO takes questions from the audience. Even in more intimate settings where head honchos sit down with a handful of employees, senior managers tell me most employees don't take advantage of the chance to make themselves memorable and noticed by the company's key executive.

"People ask the stupidest questions," a president of a software development business told me. "You've got the CEO, COO and chairman of the board (at a staff meeting) and people ask, 'What are you going to do about getting pencils in the cabinet?' or 'When will I get a computer upgrade?' Why don't they take advantage of this time?"

Other managers say they aren't surprised when they hear such questions from administrative staff. But they expect more from people higher up in the organization.

From associate attorneys, for example, one law firm president said he expects inquiries about the economics of the firm, business planning, expectations about hours and billings and what it takes to become a partner, "anything that indicates a feeling of being part of a team, an active participant or even an 'owner' of the business."

I say it doesn't matter where you sit in your organization. Whether you're an administrative assistant or midlevel manager, if you're smart, you won't get into the weeds with the CEO or other senior manager.

An administrative assistant for a pharmaceutical company wrote me, saying she was invited to breakfast with her CEO and wondered what she should talk about because she "heard this is a good time to ask any questions you might have."

Yes, it's a good time to ask questions, but not just any old ones. If you want to be recognized as a valuable player who's worthy of more responsibility and pay, demonstrate that in front of your company's key decision-makers.

Ask questions about the business and future plans and what you can do to contribute. The CEOs I talked with said the kinds of questions that would set that tone include: