Your job is to make your boss's job easier, no matter what job you have.
There was a time when your position at the company didn't exist. Then when your boss's position became too big for one person, your position was created to take some of the work off of his plate. Your boss is ultimately responsible for the work you do, so he wants to know what is getting done and if there are any problems. Take this fact into account when deciding what to ask or tell your boss, and you should have an easier time getting along.
Here are a few more tips for endearing yourself to your boss at work:
Take notes
Most managers understand when they hire a new employee that they'll initially have to spend more time training the new employee than he will save them. When someone is training you, save time in the future by taking notes so that you don't have to ask the same questions over and over again. The most important things to write down are step-by-step processes you might forget, as well as the names of people you can go to with questions in the future (e.g., Jennifer knows all the computer processes best, so she can help if you have trouble with them).
Keep a list of what you've been working on
This list is useful in
1) showing your boss what you've been doing, in case he asks,
2) asking your boss for help prioritizing your work, if you have a lot to do and aren't sure what is most urgent or important,
3) listing on future performance evaluations where they ask about your current job duties and accomplishments.
Check in regularly
One way to help get your boss off your back is to check in with him regularly, giving him status updates on what you've been doing. In a new job, you should be checking in AT LEAST once per day. If you have follow-up questions he needs to answer, you can ask them then, rather than interrupt him every few minutes with a question. If your boss doesn’t hear from you regularly, he will assume you aren’t doing your job and that you need closer supervision, or that you are simply a bad employee. Checking in with a status update tells him that you are proactive and can be trusted.
Know when to use CC
Copying or "CC-ing" your boss on an email is useful if there is something he needs to be aware of, particularly if it doesn't warrant sending him a separate email. If it's something important, make sure to mention it the next time you check in too.
Bring solutions instead of problems
If you're having a problem on the job and think you might know a solution, mention it to your boss and see what he thinks. It exercises your problem solving skills, prevents your boss from having to come up with a solution, and shows your boss how capable you are.
Use these tips at work, and getting along with even the most hard to please boss gets easier.
Carissa Doshi is a business writer and the president of Gen Y Media Group. She gives career advice and blogs about her experiences on www.carissadoshi.com. You can also follow @CarissaDoshi on Twitter.