Here's how you can foster a positive relationship with your boss.

Thankfully, I only had one "not so good" boss in my career. What I learned was that even when the relationship was not the most ideal for me, due to a lot of inconsistencies and dysfunction, I kept looking at the positives and the hard work that my boss went through to have the business. I considered the challenges he had with customers and personnel issues and put myself in his shoes. From there I offered options and pros/cons for each. I never told him what to do, because after all, it was his business.

My boss' behavior had plenty of inconsistencies, so I felt that it was my obligation to communicate as clearly as possible. I prepared my thoughts to be very concise. I had open channels to discuss work-related matters whether by phone or email. I adapted my communication style to match my boss' preferences and I listened a whole lot more than I spoke. Also, I expressed gratitude as "that's the reason I work for you" - because indeed s/he was a very accomplished person. Speakers are responsible for good communication; however, my boss was rarely clear. I made sure to re-phrase as often as necessary to make sure his/her thoughts were understood. A lot of work indeed, but that saved me a lot of aggravation and duplicated work.

Fortunately, showing initiative is one of my fortes. Proactive identifying tasks that need attention, addressing them, and proposing solutions indeed will foster a very positive relationship, not just with your boss, but with your colleagues as well. Having people know that they can count on you to go the extra mile, especially during challenging times, promotes trust and respect. Indeed this sets us apart - and also contributes to our own benefit, such as the opportunity to learn new skills. In order to avoid burning out, it is important to maintain a positive attitude, acknowledge your boss' and/or colleagues' perspective, and adapt accordingly.