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Narayana Murthy’s leadership style was shaped by a pivotal experience at IIM-Ahmedabad, where he learned to focus on the substance of a message rather than the manner in which it’s delivered.
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Murthy emphasizes the importance of discipline, accountability, and continuous learning in leadership.
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He encourages young people to chart their own paths and create new opportunities rather than imitating others.
Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys, recently shared a transformative experience from his time at IIM-Ahmedabad that shaped his leadership philosophy. During a technical debate, a colleague used inappropriate language, leaving Murthy feeling ashamed and saddened. However, their professor’s calm demeanor and focus on the lesson learned rather than the communication style taught Murthy a valuable lesson.
Murthy emphasized the importance of discipline, citing his father’s influence in teaching him time management skills that contributed to his academic success. He also shared a defining moment from his early career in Paris, where he learned a critical leadership lesson about taking full responsibility for failures and sharing the glory with his team.
Murthy’s leadership philosophy is built on focusing on the substance of a message, maintaining strong relationships, and making decisions that benefit the team. He encourages young people to prioritize continuous learning, innovation, and creating new opportunities, rather than simply following in others’ footsteps.
