Dealing with a toxic micromanager

Over-communicating worked for me. I sent daily end-of-day summaries, and within a month, my boss backed off considerably.

Micromanagement is usually rooted in the manager's own anxiety and lack of control, rather than your actual performance. However, you are absorbing the collateral damage. Protect your psychological safety first by practicing "emotional uncoupling"—remind yourself that their behavior is a reflection of their pathology, not your worth. Practically, utilize proactive communication. Micromanagers crave predictability. Over-communicate your status and deliverables before they ask. If the physical symptoms of anxiety persist, document the behavior and begin formulating an exit strategy, as chronic exposure to toxic leadership severely damages mental health.