When the numbers accumulate & a trend is discernible, we can make a conjecture or two. The current CEO of Infosys, S.D Shibulal has said that at 18.7%, the attrition rate has reached uncomfortable levels. He considers this to be more worrisome than the exit of nine senior executives, quite a few among them being C-suite contenders. Both instances are of course, related. No two ways about it. Why is Infosys facing so many challenges? A significant part of the answer lies in the decision to rotate the top-leadership among all company founders. This is the primary conjecture. Let us trace the journey from then to now. Emotions have a big role to play.We are all emotional beings.The story of Infosys is cherished corporate folklore.It has inspired millions of success stories in India. We rightly revere people like Narayan Murthy for their integrity-bound achievements. Founder-owners make tremendous sacrifices in the cause of their enterprise success. It is their baby. The world invariably respects their commitment to safeguard their baby. Keeping the top-position in the company founders circle was a reflection of…
Nelson Mandela – Three specific inspiring actions
Nelson Mandela has passed into the ages. The tributes pouring in from all over create a rare opportunity to spur ourselves into a life of significance and action. Rare because of the near universal reverence for him and his indelible leadership impact. If something stirs in us on knowing what he achieved in his life, then this powerful resonance can spark off a little of the same greatness in each one of us. How will the sparks fly? Where can we be touched by his greatness? Three significant actions stand out for me. First, Nelson Mandela on being released from prison did not harbour any animosity or bitterness towards the white supremacist government. Centuries old oppression of blacks in general, and 27 years of incarceration in particular can make any human-being want to retaliate. More so, when the tide has turned in his favour, as indeed it had, when he was released in 1990. Nelson Mandela did not get carried away. He looked ahead. South Africa was in the throes of a historic transition. In creating a new South Africa,…
A focus-creating question for new executive leaders
Sometimes, your journey to the top makes you believe you already know the view from the summit. Even before you get there. Executive leaders work diligently to get to the top. As deserving performers over the years, they learn in the school of hard knocks. Many a time, they have made a mental note of how they will do things differently once their time comes. Ask them questions and they will have ready answers. How their function, their area is performing. What the ‘real’ obstacles are. What the most crucial tasks are, who the most critical team-members are. All this and more. In effect, they know what efforts they want to put in when their time comes. And when they do take charge, the first impulse is to intensify effort. They want their team, their function to do better on all parameters. What does the executive leader do? In good faith, he takes upon himself the responsibility of being a good leader. And looks inwards, to his responsibility area, the team in place, and how he can lead them. What…