Hi,
Rule #1
It's not about you, it's about them.
Rule #2
Refer to Rule #1.
This may seem overly simplistic however; it is true. You are there to perform a service. Period. Not to smooze, pickup girls or pick your nose. In order to perform this 'service' you have to understand what is expected of you at multiple levels, professionally, technically and interpersonally.
The best way to understand what is expected of you is to listen, I mean listen, to your boss first and formost and then your co-workers. And I mean really listen. Not only to what they say to you but to each other.
Then you will start to understand where they are coming from.
I have an old saying:
"You can't avoid being run over by the bus unless you first see where it's coming from."
The same is true with people. The only way you can figure out what is expected of you is to understand what others expect of you. And the only way to do that is to put yourself in their place. In other words, you have to see where they are coming from.
If you do this one simple thing it will save your ass over and over again throughout your career.
Now, I did not say you have to turn into a Vulcan and act like Mr. Spock. It's exteremely importaint to have good interpersonal skills at work. The point I'm trying to make is that in order to do your job effectively you have to know what is expected of you and if you listen and observe others around you at work you will figure it out.
Otherwise, the only thing they will think that you are good for is to be a 'Code Monkey' for the rest of your life.
Like me...