“Leadership is Extremely Lonely,” says Narayana Murthy

“Leadership is extremely lonely,” said Narayana Murthy, the Infosys co-founder on the second episode of 3one4 Capital podcast, The Record, with T V Mohandas Pai. This should have been the first episode instead, as it gives in so much more context to why Murthy urged youth to work 12-hours a day.

He said while leadership is very lonely, the memories of the joys, and the challenges that you faced in the organisation is what really gives you company. He explained further, saying how taking decisions required him oftentimes to not sleep at night and sit alone to think about it. 

“I enjoyed those successes. I wept for those mistakes. I think in some sense, the experiences that you have gone through within the organisation is your only companion. There's nobody else.”

Pai further asked Murthy why he has been obsessed with Infosys. “It's 24/7 in your life,” highlighting how he spends most of his time working for Infosys. He asked about Murthy’s work-life balance. 

Citing Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, Murthy said that they were not successful in family life, and were attached to their passion – i.e. to build a great nation. 

“When you are thinking about it all your waking hours, when you are spending all the disposable hours with that institution, it is quite possible that you would not be judged a successful family person,” said Murthy, saying that he was fortunate enough to have wife like Sudha Murthy, who understood Murthy’s vision.

“When we founded Infosys, I will look after the children. I won't worry you about their issues. You go ahead and look after your child, Infosys," recalled Murthy.  

This clarification was absolutely necessary after Murthy, in the last episode, urged the youth to work 12 hours in a day. Murthy’s comment has been intensively discussed, and oftentimes scrutinised for urging people to work for around 70 hours in a week. There is always so much to learn from such leaders.