When Things Go Off Track: Dealing with Breakdowns

Commences: Monday, May 18, 2026

Work doesn’t always go to plan. A commitment isn’t met. Something takes longer than expected. A decision changes. A supplier doesn’t deliver. A conversation leads to a different outcome than you had in mind.

In these moments, something has gone off track. Sometimes it’s obvious, sometimes it’s more subtle — a sense that things aren’t lining up as they should.

What happens next matters.

It’s easy to react. We can become frustrated, stressed, or resigned. We might carry that into the next conversation, or avoid dealing with the situation altogether. At other times, we move straight to blame or try to push things back into line without really understanding what has happened.

What’s often missing is a clear way to recognise that a breakdown has occurred, to pause, and to respond in a way that restores direction and coordination.

What you’ll develop

In this course you will develop the ability to:

• Recognise when a breakdown has occurred, rather than letting issues sit or escalate
• Raise and declare breakdowns clearly, without blame or defensiveness
• Understand how breakdowns arise in coordination, not just individual performance
• Reset expectations and renegotiate commitments to restore alignment

Course format

This short course is designed to fit within the rhythm of school life:

• Self-paced preparation (approx. 30 minutes)
• Live online workshop (90 minutes)
• Implementation period (at least one week)
• Online reflection and peer learning session (90 minutes)

Total guided learning time: 3–4 hours, plus application in your own work.

Who this is for

This course is designed for:

• School leaders and senior teachers
• Those responsible for leading others or contributing to team performance
• Educators who want to strengthen their leadership capability through practical skill development

Alignment with Professional Standards

This course supports:

• Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (AITSL)
  • Standard 6: Engage in professional learning
  • Standard 7: Engage professionally with colleagues
• Australian Professional Standard for Principals
  • Leading improvement through professional dialogue, collaboration, and staff development

Delivery details

Delivery mode: Online