Narayana Murthy: What my business taught me

India Today Group Editor-in-chief Aroon Purie(Left) welcomes Infosys Chairman N.R. Narayana Murthy (Right) at Business Today Mind Rush 2013 on Friday, Dec 13, 2014, an event that brings global thought leadership to the doorstep of India for the leaders of tomorrow. The theme of Murthy's session-Weathered Wisdom: What my business taught me about the business of life.

Infosys Chairman N.R. Narayana Murthy addresses the audience at Business Today MindRush 2013 event. He says an ideal leader is one who is as comfortable with the bird's eye view of a situation as he is with the worm's eye view.

The Infosys chairman said that simplicity in conduct and corporate lifestyle matters a lot to build a strong company. Simple corporate lifestyle brings corporate leaders closer to their employees.

Narayana Murthy said it is important to be courteous, graceful and humble when you're on the top.

Murthy quoted Louis Pasteur, saying chance favours the prepared mind. So being prepared matters, and matters more as you rise higher. Choosing your words carefully is important for leaders, he says. It is important to show gratitude to your junior employees.

At the event, Murthy also detailed how his son was highly qualified. On the issue of meritocracy, there was nobody more qualified. He joined on a salary of one rupee, Murthy said, as his father's executive assistant. There was no violation, he said, of any issue of corporate governance.