Just as in your everyday life your character's skills are an essential part of game play. Learn how to use them to your advantage and to the group as a whole. Honing your skills and building on them is one sure way to kick it up a notch.
I don't think it's possible for the player's skills not to bleed into the character's skills. So embrace your personal skills in your characters. Play characters that have your interests and knowledge. Then your skills will mesh invisibly with your character's skills and the fact that your character inevitably has your knowledge will seem natural.
The Wall