Narayan Murthy - Leadership Traits w545o

Introduction • Leadership - Influencing, motivating, and enabling others to contribute toward the effectiveness and success of the organizations of which they are

Nagavara Ramarao Narayana Murthy • Non-Executive Chairman, Infosys • Member of Advisory Board and Council at Cornell University, INSEAD,ESSEC,FORD Foundation, UN Foundation • 25 Honorary Doctorates, M. Tech IIT-Kanpur, B.Tech University of Mysore • Pa Vibhushan (2008) and Pa Shri (2000) • Founder Softronics and Co-founder Infosys

TRAIT THEORY Simple living High thinking • Still uses public transport for commuting • Lives in a simple 2bhk house and flies economy till date. • However, he does not cut corners on buying books or brushing up on literature.

Visionary

Courageous

• Got together with 6 professionals and wanted to start India’s first software company of the professionals, for the professionals, by the professionals • He had vision and ZERO CAPITAL • Clear and distinct vision of not venturing into dotcom which eventually saved them from losing the market • Because of his farsightedness, Infosys is now one of the most sought after company.

• He believes there is no leadership without courage: courage to do what is right, to it one's mistakes, to accept that peers can be smarter and better, and to take tough and unpleasant decisions.

Behavioral THEORY Initiator

EmployeeOriented Leadership

• Made Infosys the first company to offer staff stock options • First Indian company to list on NASDAQ 100 list • First Indian company to attain the highest level of quality certification

• Murthy gave away stocks worth over 50k crore to employees • Tremendous respect for people and sound philosophy of “under-promising & over delivering” • Build a healthy long-term relationship

Transformational Leadership Charismatic Leadership Unconventional behaviour: He sent a mail to employees urging to cut down working late after office hours

Personal Risk : Despite failures in the past, he decided to start a new company by investing hard earned money.

Transformational Leadership

Transactional Leadership

Intellectual Simulation: A young, argumentative Indian, was asking too many questions at an annual general body meeting of Infosys. More impressed than irritated, he hired Mohandas Pai, who went on to help Infosys list on NASDAQ

Contingent Reward:

When Infosys decided to give its employees stock options, Murthy insisted that some shares be given to good performers through the 'Chairman's quota.'

AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP Ethics and Trust

Mentoring

• In the '80s Infosys developed an application for a German client. Murthy noticed a single character error and informed the client immediately. • C-LIFE: Training given during induction to every new ee • - Customer Delight, Leadership by example, Integrity and transparency, Fairness, Pursuit of Excellence

• Narayana Murthy continues to set a brisk pace with his venture capital fund, and his role as mentor • After 2006, he took over the role of Chief Mentor • He was key person in guiding all the board of directors in important decisions and make over of the firm during crisis at top level