‘How long can you stare at your wife?’: L&T chairman suggests working 90 hours a week, even on Sundays; how to deal with leader who has high expectations

“If I can make you work on Sundays, I’ll be happier. Because I work on Sundays also,” he added.

This has sparked outrage among netizens. One user asked, “How long can employees stare at screens and fatass managers?” Another wrote: “This same person will dump his workload on juniors and go home to stare at his wife. Two-faced much?”

According to reports, Subrahmanyan also shared an example from a conversation he had with a Chinese individual who asserted that China could surpass the United States. When asked why, the person explained that Chinese workers put in 90 hours a week, whereas Americans only work 50 hours. “So that’s the answer for you. If you have got to be on top of the world.. You have to work 90 hours a week. Get going, guys. Come on,” he said.

Subrahmanyan’s comments come just after a similar controversy stirred by Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, highlighting a growing debate on work expectations in leadership.

Balancing autonomy in the workplace can be a rewarding yet challenging experience, especially when working under a boss who expects both independent initiative and high levels of interaction. A demanding but interactive boss often grants employees the freedom to make decisions and pursue creative solutions, which can foster a sense of ownership and satisfaction.

However, this autonomy also comes with the expectation of accountability and thorough preparation. In such work environments, employees may need to consistently demonstrate that they’re capable of working independently and are prepared to meet the high standards their boss expects.

Navigating such a balance can be overwhelming. To help unpack how to thrive under a high-expectation leader, indianexpress.com spoke to Neha Parashar, organisational psychologist at Cadabams Mindtalk about ways to align accountability with proactive autonomy and how to prepare effectively when given the trust to lead.

Regular self-assessment — like weekly reviews or progress reports — also fosters a sense of ownership, allowing individuals to balance the leader’s autonomy with structured self-accountability. (Source: Freepik)

Balancing the freedom granted by a demanding boss with the need for thorough preparation and accountability

Parashar mentions, “Balancing the autonomy given by a demanding leader with rigorous preparation and accountability requires a blend of self-regulation and clarity on expectations. Self-monitoring is crucial. Setting specific, measurable goals within one’s role provides a framework for tracking progress and staying aligned with the leader’s standards.”

Additionally, she adds, “evidence from The Journal of Applied Psychology shows that ‘goal-setting theory’ improves task performance, especially under high expectations. Individuals can maintain accountability without constant oversight by setting clear, achievable milestones.” Regular self-assessment — like weekly reviews or progress reports — also fosters a sense of ownership, allowing individuals to balance the leader’s autonomy with structured self-accountability.

Strategies that help in preparing effectively for interactions with a leader who has high expectations

For leaders with high standards, Parashar suggests that preparation strategies beyond surface-level understanding are essential. “Mental contrasting and implementation intentions (MCII), a cognitive-behavioural technique, combines envisioning successful outcomes with realistic planning for obstacles.”

She adds, “Pre-mortem analysis, developed by psychologist Gary Klein, anticipates failure points by imagining a failed interaction and identifying causes to address gaps. A Risk Analysis study found pre-mortem planning increased performance by 30% in high-pressure environments, preparing individuals for critical interactions.”

Lastly, she states that summative communication—preparing concise summaries of key information—aligns with leaders’ preference for depth, allowing quick access to core information while supporting more extensive discussions if needed.