'Employees don't leave companies, they leave managers', says Ghazal Alagh

Mamaearth co-founder Ghazal Alagh, in a recent post on LinkedIn, emphasized that employee attrition is often less about company policies and more about day-to-day interactions with managers.

“Employees don’t leave companies, they leave managers,” Alagh wrote. “Great talent rarely quits because of the work or the company’s mission. It’s the daily experience with their managers that determines whether they stay, grow, or leave,” she added.

Drawing from her experience building teams at early-stage startups and at Mamaearth, Alagh identified eight types of managers that high performers typically find hardest to work with:

1. The Micromanager – who leaves no room for autonomy.
2. The Credit Taker – who celebrates wins but withholds recognition.
3. The Ghost – who remains unavailable and unresponsive.
4. The Volcano – whose unpredictability undermines stability.
5. The Information Hoarder – who limits access to key knowledge.
6. The Never-Satisfied – who ignores progress in pursuit of perfection.
7. The Favoritist – who focuses disproportionately on a select few.
8. The Risk-Free Boss – who resists innovation and discourages bold ideas.

Alagh argued that real retention doesn't come from perks or policy changes, but from consistent leadership rooted in trust and respect. “If organizations want to strengthen culture and retention, the conversation must focus on everyday leadership moments,” she said.