Foundation Process 9

Escalation & Recovery Pathways

Overview

A structured method for handling breakdowns, breaches of trust, or moments where psychological safety is compromised.

Purpose

To provide predictable routes for repair, accountability, and restoration.

Steps

1. Identify the breach
   Be specific about what happened.
2. Choose the escalation route
   Peer‑to‑peer, mediator, leader, or formal process.
3. Address the issue directly
   Use evidence, not accusation.
4. Agree on repair actions
   Focus on restoring trust, not assigning blame.
5. Monitor recovery
   Ensure commitments are upheld.

Indicators of Good Practice

• People trust the process
• Issues are raised early
• Repair is normalised

Common Failure Modes

• Escalation used as punishment
• Avoiding escalation until too late
• No follow‑through on repair actions

When to Use

• When trust is damaged
• When behaviour breaches expectations
• When informal resolution fails

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