Scenario 2.8: Staff relationships in a department have broken down
A department has become fractured. Staff are not communicating well, tensions are visible, and interactions between colleagues have become immature or unprofessional. People may be avoiding one another, speaking negatively about colleagues, or allowing disagreements to affect day-to-day working relationships. While the issue may have begun with a disagreement or misunderstanding, it is now affecting team culture and risks undermining the professional example adults should model for students. Left unaddressed, this behaviour can damage trust, collaboration, and the shared sense of purpose that strong teams depend on.
Leadership Behaviours to Support This Challenge
| Code | Behaviour | Why It Matters |
| T2 | Ask First | Understanding the root causes of tension prevents leaders from making assumptions and helps surface the real issues beneath the behaviour. |
| T4 | Create a Team | Reconnecting staff with shared purpose helps shift focus away from personal disagreements toward collective responsibility for students. |
| T10 | Embrace Accountability | Professional behaviour is a non-negotiable expectation. Leaders must address conduct that undermines trust or team culture. |
| S1 | Explain the Why | Re-anchoring the team in the moral purpose of the profession reminds colleagues that their work is ultimately about serving students, not personal disputes. |
| Y3 | Manage Emotions | Leaders must stay calm and constructive when tensions are high so they can guide conversations toward resolution rather than escalation. |
Suggested Approach
- Begin by understanding the situation fully. Speak individually with those involved and listen carefully to their perspectives before drawing conclusions.
- Address the issue directly rather than allowing tensions to continue unresolved. Framing the conversation around professionalism and shared purpose helps prevent it from becoming personal.
- Reaffirm expectations for how colleagues treat one another. Adults in schools model behaviour for students, and respectful professional conduct is essential.
- Reconnect the team with their shared mission. Remind colleagues why they chose to work in education and the responsibility they hold to the children they serve.
- Facilitate a constructive conversation that focuses on solutions and future behaviour rather than revisiting past grievances.
- Continue to monitor the situation and follow up where necessary. Rebuilding trust and collaboration often requires deliberate leadership over time.
