Teams That Swear

Leadership sounds easy when it’s written in a book. It’s very different when you’re sitting across from someone whose career or livelihood is about to change.

Pat Howard has been in that chair more than once.

At Cricket Australia, he was the one who had to tell Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft what sanctions they faced after the ball-tampering scandal. At MSL Solutions, in his very first week as CEO, he had to let 60 people go to keep the business alive.

These weren’t just hard conversations, they were moments that would define people’s lives, careers and reputations.

In our latest Teams That Swear episode, Pat shares the principles he follows when the pressure is on:

• Why speed and clarity matter most in tough conversations
• The Wednesday 4pm rule that kept a distributed teamaligned
• The discipline of “120 coffees” that helped him bounce back after leaving CA
• Why the best player is never just the most talented one,  it’s the one who makes the team better

We also went behind the headlines. From growing up in the carnival world to lessons learned in rugby and business, Pat’s story is a reminder that leadership is as much about people as it is about performance.

Are you burnt out, or are you just buried?

In the latest episode of Teams That Swear, I talk about something I’m seeing in almost every conversation with senior leaders right now.

They’re not disengaged. They still care deeply about their teams and the work. But they are buried. Buried in meetings, buried in emails that start with “Can you just...”, and buried inwork that no longer needs them.

Burnout is real. And if you’re there, please take it seriously. But for many leaders, the issue isn’t burnout. It’s busyness. It’s being buried in tasks that leave no time to think, decide or lead.

In this episode, I share:

• A powerful moment from a recent coaching session that hit me hard
• What “being buried” really looks like for leaders
• Three practical things you can do this week to make space for what matters

If your week feels over before it starts, this one’s for you.

Listen now and try one of the ideas. Let go of something, block time for deep thinking, or simply explain the “why” behind a decision. It will make a difference.

If you think confidence means being louder, you need to meet Lizzy Geremia.

She leads over 100 people across brand, communications, and the Breakthrough Innovation Group innovation at Reece Group, one of Australia’s biggest suppliers in trade, plumbing and bathroom products.

In our latest Teams That Swear episode, we sat down for a proper, honest conversation about what leadership looks likewhen you stop performing - in the sense of pretending to be someone you are not -  and start leading in a way that actually works for you.

Here’s what we unpacked:

• How to earn trust early, and why it matters
• What to do when alignment in meetings is just a show
• The one question that cuts through tension fast
• Why confidence doesn’t need to be loud
• And what it takes to lead with presence, not performance

Lizzy didn’t hold back. She shared the kind of stuff most leaders avoid talking about. The feedback that stung. The meetings that went sideways. The moments she asked herself, “Is this really the kind of leader I want to be?”

She leads in a way that makes you think: I don’t need to raise my voice, I just need to ask better questions.

This chat is for anyone leading a team or trying to figure out how to lead in a way that actually works for them, not just the way they’ve seen done.

What’s something you avoided for way too long, but once you finally tackled it, it changed everything?

For me, it was reading Mindset by Carol Dweck.

I’d referenced it, nodded along in conversations, even quoted it. But I hadn’t actually read it.

Now I have and it’s reshaped how I think about leadership, learning, and what it really takes to build teams that swear byeach other, not about each other.

In this episode of the Teams That Swear podcast, I unpack:

• Why mindset drives more than motivation, it shapes culture, performance and trust

• The hidden risk of “CEO disease” and how it quietly kills growth

• What leaders actually signal when they reward talent over effort

• A better formula for performance that every leader should hear

• And the mindset shift around belonging that caught me by surprise

If you lead people or want to lead better, this one’s worth your time.

When your team’s flying into Afghanistan in a C-130, trust isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s non-negotiable. That’s what struck me during my latest Lunch with Adrian the Canadian episode on the Teams That Swear podcast with Ben Villalobos. Ben’s a former Royal Canadian Air Force pilot and now leads in corporate aviation. And while his stories are gripping (yes, there’s tear gas, rocket launchers, and pressure), what stuck with me most wasn’t the drama, it was the discipline.

Ben leads with focus, fairness, and a feedback rhythm that puts most corporate teams to the test. No ego. No excess. Just a clear, steady commitment to getting the mission done and making sure everyone gets home safely.

We talked about:

• Why rank disappears in the cockpit and should in your meetings too
• How feedback isn’t a performance review, it’s part of the flight plan
• What it really takes to earn trust (hint: your job title means nothing)
• And how to separate stress from distraction when everything feels urgent

Ben’s lessons aren’t just for aviators. They’re for leaders under pressure, like you, who need their team to deliver, especially when things get tough.

If you’ve ever found yourself second-guessing your leadership, wondering why your team won’t speak up, or feeling like you’re spinning your wheels while the noise keeps building… this one’s for you.

Winter’s here. Motivation’s down. Now what?

1 in 3 Aussies admit to lower motivation during the colder months. Andit’s not just them, teams feel it too.

In this episode of Teams That Swear, I talk about:   

• Why winter impacts team performance (and what the stats say)   
• The role of short-term wins in lifting energy
• What actually works to reset motivation. hint: it’s not holiday photos
• And how your team can find focus when the vibe’s off

If you lead people, this is the season to be intentional. Because even when it’s dark and chilly, you’ve still got targets, pressure, and a team counting on you.

Kerry Gassner doesn’t just lead teams, he’s led them through some of the most intense environments you can imagine. From working homicide cases to running operationsat one of Australia’s busiest stadiums, his story is as unexpected as it is powerful.

In our latest Teams That Swear podcast, I sat down with Kerry for a raw, honest conversation about leadership, pressure, and the moments that define both. What stood out? His belief in the power of people and the lessons he’s learned about empathy, ego, and trust in high-stakes settings.

Here’s a taste of what we covered:

• What homicide investigations taught him about building trust
• How he leads through tension in politically charged environments
• Why empathy, not authority is his leadership edge
• The mantra that keeps him grounded: “Pauseall action until serenity exists.”

Kerry’s path, from truck driver to detective to event ops leader, is anything but typical. But what links it all is his approach to leadership: calm, people-focused, andnever above the work.

This episode is for anyone navigating team friction, high-pressure environments, or simply trying to lead with a little more humanity.

She was asked to lead Cricket Australia’s high performance team… right after the sandpaper scandal.

No prep. No playbook. Just 50 bruised staff and a moment to step up.

Belinda Clark AO and I unpacked what it really takes to lead when the pressure is on and what still matters in leadership today.

In our Lunch with Adrian the Canadian chat, she shared:

• How to lead without relying on your title
• Why “balance” has nothing to do with hours
• What style works with today’s athletes and workers alike

She’s now building young leaders through The Leadership Playground and her take on leadership is one every exec should hear.

What if setting goals didn’t have to feel so… painful? In this episode, I’m sharing a smarter, lighter way to approach the year ahead by ditching rigid targets and focusing on what I call "areas of focus" instead. I’ll take you through personal stories, real wins, and practical tips that show how this simple mindset shift can lead to meaningful success, without the pressure.

Why do teams thrive in crisis moments, and how can you bottle that magic for everyday success? This episode uncovers the recipe for team effectiveness, with lessons from real-world crises and actionable steps to create that same energy, clarity, and focus—without the drama.