At the start of the 2017 AFL season, the Swans were in serious trouble. After reaching the Grand Final the year before, expectations were sky‑high. Then came six straight losses. Confidence fell, pressure mounted, and nothing seemed to work. 

So where do you begin as a leader when everything is going wrong? 

Former @sydneyswans head coach John Longmire says a series of critical decisions helped turn the season around. He shares the non‑negotiables he relies on to motivate teams, rebuild belief, and create cultures that perform under pressure. 

Now working with the Sydney Swans Institute, John partners with leaders across sport and business to lift performance and sustain it. 

If you’re leading a team through uncertainty, or looking to raise your own performance, this episode offers a practical and proven leadership playbook. 

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John Longmire is facilitating a special short course on leadership with AGSM at UNSW Business School on 12 May, 2026 – register here. 

Interested in the business of sport? Listen to our episode with Drew Arthurson, Chief Operating Officer at Sydney Swans. 

The Business Of podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with Deadset Studios. It’s hosted by Dr Juliet Bourke, and the transcript can be found on our website. 

Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at BusinessThink and follow UNSW Business School and AGSM on LinkedIn. Or listen to more episodes of The Business Of and subscribe to our UNSW Business School and AGSM channels on YouTube. 

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made. 

At the start of the 2017 AFL season, the Swans were in serious trouble. After reaching the Grand Final the year before, expectations were sky‑high. Then came six straight losses. Confidence fell, pressure mounted, and nothing seemed to work.&nbsp;
So where do you begin as a leader when everything is going wrong?&nbsp;
Former&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/sydneyswans/">@sydneyswans</a>&nbsp;head coach John Longmire&nbsp;says a series of&nbsp;critical decisions helped turn the season around. He shares the&nbsp;non‑negotiables&nbsp;he relies on to motivate teams, rebuild belief, and create cultures that perform under pressure.&nbsp;
Now working with the Sydney Swans Institute, John partners with leaders across sport and business to lift&nbsp;performance and&nbsp;sustain it.&nbsp;
If&nbsp;you&rsquo;re&nbsp;leading a team through uncertainty, or looking to raise your own performance, this episode offers a practical and proven leadership playbook.&nbsp;
+++&nbsp;
John Longmire is facilitating a special short course on leadership with AGSM at UNSW Business School on 12 May, 2026 &ndash;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/study/professional-development/course/leader-as-coach">register here.</a>&nbsp;
Interested in the business of sport? Listen to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/business/our-schools/agsm/about-us/the-business-of-podcast/the-business-of-high-performance">our episode with Drew Arthurson</a>, Chief Operating Officer at Sydney Swans.&nbsp;
The Business Of&nbsp;podcast is brought to you by the University of New South Wales Business School, produced with&nbsp;<a href="http://deadsetstudios.com/">Deadset Studios</a>.&nbsp;It&rsquo;s&nbsp;hosted by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/juliet-bourke">Dr Juliet Bourke,</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;the transcript can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/business/our-schools/agsm/about-us/the-business-of-podcast">on our website.</a>&nbsp;
Want to follow the latest research and news from UNSW Business School and AGSM @ UNSW Business School? Subscribe to our industry stories at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.businessthink.unsw.edu.au/">BusinessThink</a>&nbsp;and follow&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/school/3274515/">UNSW Business School</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/school/agsm-nswbusinessschool/">AGSM</a>&nbsp;on LinkedIn. Or listen to more episodes of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQbonRH_ZoP6HvuwtyFG3yESJ5ag-o34w">The Business Of</a>&nbsp;and subscribe to our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@unswbusiness/videos">UNSW Business School</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/AGSMatUNSWBusinessSchool">AGSM</a> channels on YouTube.&nbsp;
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made.&nbsp;

As the pace of organisational change speeds up, a new generation of leaders is emerging who see the world differently. They are finding ways to grapple with complexity and make an impact in an accelerating world. What can we learn from them? In The Business Of, a podcast from UNSW Business School, a diverse group of business leaders from the corporate, start-up, government, and for-purpose sectors share their lived experiences in building businesses that can ‘do well’ and ‘do good’. 

Host Dr Juliet Bourke, a UNSW Professor of Practice in the School of Management and Governance, speaks with leaders from a range of industries unpacking the complexities of business of art, sports, AI, climate change and more.  

Wherever business practices are shifting UNSW researchers and academics are there, and in The Business Of you also learn about the global forces, competing interests and new trends influencing everyday decisions.  

Professor Barney Tan, the Senior Deputy Dean for Impact and Partnerships at the UNSW Business School, will help you make sense of all the moving parts through the latest research at the world’s top universities. He breaks down how that research equips leaders to make better decisions, build better teams and make a real impact. 

If you’re curious about the way business works, The Business Of can introduce you to contemporary industry practices and take you inside the minds of leaders as they figure out what’s next.  

Find out more - 

https://www.unsw.edu.au/business/our-schools/agsm/about-us/the-business-of-podcast   

https://www.businessthink.unsw.edu.au/ 

As the pace of organisational change speeds up, a new generation of leaders is emerging who see the world differently. They are finding ways to grapple with complexity and make an impact in an accelerating world. What can we learn from them? In The Business Of, a podcast from UNSW Business School, a diverse group of business leaders from the corporate, start-up, government, and for-purpose sectors share their lived experiences in building businesses that can &lsquo;do well&rsquo; and &lsquo;do good&rsquo;.&nbsp;
Host <a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/juliet-bourke">Dr Juliet Bourke</a>, a UNSW Professor of Practice in the School of Management and Governance, speaks with leaders from a range of industries unpacking the complexities of business of art, sports, AI, climate change and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Wherever business practices are shifting UNSW researchers and academics are there, and in The Business Of you also learn about the global forces, competing interests and new trends influencing everyday decisions.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/staff/barney-tan">Professor Barney Tan</a>, the Senior Deputy Dean for Impact and Partnerships at the UNSW Business School, will help you make sense of all the moving parts through the latest research at the world&rsquo;s top universities. He breaks down how that research equips leaders to make better decisions, build better teams and make a real impact.&nbsp;
If you&rsquo;re curious about the way business works, The Business Of can introduce you to contemporary industry practices and take you inside the minds of leaders as they figure out what&rsquo;s next. &nbsp;
Find out more -&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/business/our-schools/agsm/about-us/the-business-of-podcast">https://www.unsw.edu.au/business/our-schools/agsm/about-us/the-business-of-podcast</a>&nbsp; &nbsp;
<a href="https://www.businessthink.unsw.edu.au/">https://www.businessthink.unsw.edu.au/</a>&nbsp;

AGSM's 'The Business Of’ podcast examines the possibilities of transformation from the perspective of different industries.

The Business Of

Ever wondered what separates good businesses from great ones?

The Business Of, from UNSW Business School, goes behind the headlines to explore the global forces, industry shifts and leadership challenges shaping business today.

Host Dr Juliet Bourke speaks with leaders about technology, finance, marketing, consumer loyalty, AI and productivity, unpacking what truly drives successful businesses. Then Professor Barney Tan, Senior Deputy Dean at UNSW, breaks down the latest trends and ground-breaking research into strategies you can actually implement.

Smart conversations. Fresh insights from leaders who've been there.

This is The Business Of.

Find out more - 

https://www.unsw.edu.au/business/our-schools/agsm/about-us/the-business-of-podcast   

https://www.businessthink.unsw.edu.au/ 

Ever wondered what separates good businesses from great ones?
The Business Of, from UNSW Business School, goes behind the headlines to explore the global forces, industry shifts and leadership challenges shaping business today.
Host Dr Juliet Bourke speaks with leaders about technology, finance, marketing, consumer loyalty, AI and productivity, unpacking what truly drives successful businesses. Then Professor Barney Tan, Senior Deputy Dean at UNSW, breaks down the latest trends and ground-breaking research into strategies you can actually implement.
Smart conversations. Fresh insights from leaders who've been there.
This is The Business Of.
Find out more -&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.unsw.edu.au/business/our-schools/agsm/about-us/the-business-of-podcast">https://www.unsw.edu.au/business/our-schools/agsm/about-us/the-business-of-podcast&nbsp;</a> &nbsp;
<a href="https://www.businessthink.unsw.edu.au/">https://www.businessthink.unsw.edu.au/</a>&nbsp;

John Longmire led the Sydney Swans through one of their most consistent eras in AFL history. Hear how he motivated a team and turned crisis into  culture. 