Propriety and understanding ones position and abilities with it will get you far.

Understanding the nuances of your particular job and job culture and the known proprieties are very important. In some job settings the social order may suggest that you ask around to find out how others are coping with or why others don’t have to cope with these problems. In other situation that may get you in trouble.

And the same goes for dictating back your orders to your boss, many superiors will find that action condescending while some will find it helpful and still others may just not even notice or understand what you are doing. You have to be able to read into some of the proprieties of your position or find them through the support system of the position and hopefully there is one or more that you can find.

I find that if a person is to the point of documenting EVERYTHING as a way of protecting oneself, than things are way out of hand already and everyone involved has handled the situation badly. Or there is simply a practiced deviousness afoot. Discretion is key in learning what the work place demand what you already know. But again, I don’t know any of the particulars of anyone plight here.

Like RJ said, find people willing to listen outside of work and that want to get a clear and complete picture of what is happening so you can then have a better perspective of how to proceed with your relationships at work.

It's all relationships.