Activities and Skills of Narayan Murthy
IT in India would have never been the way it is without one man: N.R. Narayana Murthy.
A chief founder of India’s largest (and most respected) IT company Infosys, he is one is a well-known Indian information technology architect. Few would be aware that Mr. Murthy founded Infosys with a Rs. 10,000 loan from his spouse. However, we are all aware of how much of a success Infy—as it is affectionately called—has become because to the wise guidance and foresight of one guy.
In 2011, he resigned to the position of Chairman Emeritus, having led the firm as CEO for more than 20 years (1981–2002). A recipient of several honours, including the French government’s “Legion of Honour” and the Padma Vibhushan, Mr. Murthy is still on the boards of HSBC, the Ford Foundation, and the UN Foundation.
Reputable media outlets including The Economist, Time, CNN, and others have consistently placed him highly among the most powerful people in business and among prominent personalities. In addition to being an IT whiz, he has managed important corporate governance projects in India with success. He advises many Asian nations on IT issues. Not only Indian managers, but managers worldwide, highly value his leadership teachings.
We offer you his perceptive and provocative guidance on a few fundamental issues that almost all managers face. If one looks beyond the obvious, however, his ideas may apply not just to business owners and managers but to almost anybody who strives to succeed in their chosen area, including housewives, students, soldiers, and artists.
N.R. Narayana Murthy has some fantastic leadership advice that is worth considering:
Regarding Difficulties and Obstacles
Mr. Murthy argues that boosting followers’ confidence is one of a leader’s primary responsibilities. Hard times and obstacles are necessary components of life, and in the end, everything will work out better. He contends that in order for followers to get through challenging times, a leader must maintain their optimism and vitality.
Mr. Murthy often emphasises this idea by using Winston Churchill as an example. During World War II, Churchill’s fearless leadership as prime minister of Great Britain effectively guided the British people away from the verge of defeat. “These are not sad days; these are fantastic days, the finest days our nation has ever lived,” he said, boosting the aspirations of his people. According to Mr. Murthy, effective leadership is more important than ever in times of crisis.
According to Mr. Murthy’s book On Being a Successful Entrepreneur, an entrepreneur must possess these four crucial traits in order to succeed:
zeal and tenacity of purpose
placing more emphasis on long-term goals
elevated ambitions and strong levels of optimism
Having a cooperative attitude
Regarding Launching a New Business
Mr. Murthy claims that the following four factors might be crucial when starting a business:
The Concept: A person should have a precise, well-defined concept of the item or service they want to market.
Idea’s market value: A rudimentary degree of trust in the market’s appreciation of your goods and willingness to pay for it is necessary.
Team: A group of people with “complementary skillsets” is necessary. Even if members of a team may have different skill sets, they still need to work together for the same goal.
Elevated Goals: Strive hard to achieve your lofty goals.
Regarding Building Trust, Mr. Murthy believes that confidence and trust can only arise in situations where openness is highly valued. “The leader must establish a setting in which every individual feels confident enough to own up to their faults and make a commitment to doing better,” he says. He continues by saying that organisations with a high level of trust and transparency are even respected by investors. “Our mentality at Infosys has always been, ‘When in doubt, reveal,'” he states.
Regarding values, Mr. Murthy has consistently emphasised the significance of a system of values inside a company. Additionally, adhering to a set of values fosters the conditions that enable individuals to have high hopes, a strong sense of self-worth, a conviction in core principles, optimism for the future, and the drive needed to take on seemingly challenging activities. Here, he really emphasises that having a value system is not everything. Leaders must set an example for others by doing it themselves. “They have to walk the talk,” as the saying goes.
Regarding Work-Life Harmony
Mr. Murthy finds it difficult to relate to the idea of work-life balance. “Let’s build a life first, then worry about work-life balance,” he had previously stated. The idea of a work-life balance is beyond me.
According to Mr. Murthy, a successful individual is “someone who lights up a room when he/she comes in.” I would still consider someone to be successful if they make others smile, regardless of whether they have formal education, are self-employed, or not.