Snapshots: All Black Richie McCaw on leadership

Richie McCaw says never let doubt show on the field. Photo / Getty Images

All Black captain Richie McCaw wowed at Wednesday's charity gala iSport dinner event, and while most of the talk was on the upcoming World Cup, shares his top three leadership tips.

Here's a summary:

1. Leaders treat everyone equal but different: Everyone is a bit different - everyone has different drivers, different motivations and different ways of doing things. I realised this one very important principle - that rules are for the guidance of the wise and the strict adherence of fools.

In the All Blacks, we have a full spectrum of society - we have guys brought up in the best of private schools, guys from the toughest of backgrounds. We have the grunty big forwards who just don't like bullshit, the backs who dance around the facts and won't play without their hair gel, so you can't apply one set of rules for everyone because people have different drivers, different backgrounds and different motivations. Good leadership is about being able to get the best out of everyone.

2. Leaders must be open and honest but also conceal some things: Leadership is about being open and honest but at the same time, even when you're not feeling it inside, you must exude a confidence even when there's doubts. Open and honest - yes, but never let doubt show on the field.

3. The greatest enemy of excellence is talent: The talented individuals assume they will do well because they're talented - but it's the ones that try harder and practice longer because they need to, that succeed. When times get tough, they're the ones that are used to trying their hardest and so they end up being the ones that are still around in the long run.

Dame Rosie Horton, left, Diane Foreman and Clare De Lore at the launch of Foreman's book, In The Arena. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Foreman versus Fonterra

Auckland's wealthy and elite turned up to celebrate the launch of Diane Foreman's book

In the Arena

on Thursday. The book focused on Foreman's business secrets as well as the sale of her business Emerald Group to a company in China. Although pleased with the sale, Foreman said she was extremely disappointed it didn't stay local - disclosing that when she was approached by Jerry Liu to buy the company, she offered dairy giant Fonterra first option to acquire the company. Despite approaching Fonterra twice, Foreman said the company declined even to meet with her. According to Foreman, this signifies Fonterra's issues are not just financial ones.

Capers on Kawau

Duco Events co-owner Dean Lonergan celebrated his 50th birthday in style on Friday, with his business partner David Higgins throwing him a surprise birthday bash at Kawau Island. Higgins hired two sea planes - fully stocked with celebratory champagne - to fly the company's staff out to the island at midday. The trip also served as a chance for the staff to relax after the big event hosting the evening with Richie McCaw and Dan Carter on Wednesday.

Mike Daniell, chief executive of Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, has announced his retirement.

Long way to top

Long time Fisher and Paykel Healthcare chief executive Mike Daniell announced his retirement last week. In a note on his decision, he referred to his earlier days with the company in the research and development lab "as a bearded, longer haired, flared trouser and wide seersucker tie wearing new graduate". Well talk at Fashion Week was that the 70s are back. Some 37 years later Daniell is stepping down in favour of a board role and leaving Lewis Gradon as the new helmsman.

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