Silence, curiosity and zero chaos: Ghazal Alagh shares her quiet strategy to tackle workplace toxicity without drama
Mamaearth
co-founder
Ghazal Alagh
is offering a quieter, more reflective approach to leadership. In a recent post on LinkedIn, the entrepreneur—widely regarded as a modern business icon—shared her personal strategy to handle toxic behaviour at the workplace. Her mantra? Don't give energy to drama.
With
Mamaearth
having grown from a niche baby care startup to a ₹10,000 crore D2C juggernaut, Alagh's thoughts on managing workplace dynamics have weight. And in a world increasingly discussing burnout,
quiet quitting
, and toxic office culture, her post offers an antidote rooted in mindfulness rather than muscle.
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The Post That Sparked a Conversation
'How to deal with toxicity at work?' Alagh began her post with a question many leaders often face, but few address with honesty.
'People sometimes assume that leadership means always being direct and confrontational with negativity,' she wrote. 'But experience has taught me that sometimes, the smartest move is to play it cool—or better, curious.'
In her post, Alagh recalled a past incident involving subtle resistance during a crucial project. Instead of responding with confrontation, she took a step back, observed, and asked thoughtful questions—allowing intent to surface naturally. 'In most cases, this approach helped the rest of the team see what was really going on,' she added.
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Mamaearth's Ghazal Alagh believes 'just be yourself' is the worst advice at work. Here's why
Her strategy is simple but powerful: observe, don't overreact; ask open-ended questions to reveal intent; let the truth play out without theatrics; and redirect energy toward solutions instead of conflict.
"Toxicity Thrives on Reaction": Netizens Applaud Her Wisdom
Alagh's post resonated deeply, drawing praise from across professional circles.
One commenter likened her style to that of a 'calm ninja in the workplace'—quietly slicing through drama with precision. Another noted, 'Toxicity thrives on reaction. The smartest leaders disarm it not with confrontation, but with calm precision and quiet consistency.'
A particularly insightful reply stated, 'Listening can be the most powerful leadership tool we forget to use.' It's a sentiment that echoes the core of Alagh's message: strong leadership is as much about restraint as it is about direction.
You Might Also Like:
From 'Credit Taker' to 'Ghost' to 'Volcano': Mamaearth's Ghazal Alagh lists 8 types of bosses hardest to work with
More Than a Founder
Ghazal Alagh is known for juggling multiple identities—mother, artist, entrepreneur, and former
Shark Tank India
judge. Her foray into the beauty and wellness industry began with a personal search for safe baby products after the birth of her son. That led to the creation of Mamaearth in 2016, which soon became Asia's first brand to receive the
MADE SAFE certification
.
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