Raise, flag or hold

Free planning tool Runs in your browser

What to Bring When You Escalate

Get a quick steer on whether to raise it, who should hear it first and what evidence to bring.

Quick steer

Choose the closest fit

Runs in your browser. Nothing is saved or sent. Choose the closest fit — “Not sure” is fine.

1 What is happening?

I’m waiting on another team or person Priorities conflict A decision is not being made The ask keeps changing A risk is growing but has not been named Not sure

2 What happens if nothing changes?

Delivery date slips Quality or safety risk increases Team burns time or morale Someone is expecting something we may not deliver Mostly a visibility issue Not sure

3 When does this need attention?

Today or this week Before the next meeting Before a milestone Soon, but not urgent No clear deadline Not sure

4 Who can actually change it? choose any that apply

My team can fix it locally Another team or owner needs to act A senior decision is needed The owner is unclear Several people are involved Not sure

5 What do you need from the conversation?

A decision A choice between time, scope or quality Permission to pause or change direction Visibility only Help finding the owner Not sure

6 How sensitive is it?

Low sensitivity Some politics Senior stakeholder involved Could sound like blame Relationship already strained Not sure

0 of 6 answered

Answer at least 4 to get a steer. Anything left blank is treated cautiously and flagged to confirm.

Here’s the steer

Likely move

Why

Decision ask

Who should hear it first

Evidence to bring

Wording starter

Watch out

Want the version you can actually use?

The steer tells you the likely move. The pack turns it into something you can take into a conversation: the decision ask, who to involve, what evidence to bring, wording to use and what not to overclaim.

Optional

Turn the steer into an escalation pack

Add a few optional details and get a fuller pack: decision ask, route, risk wording, evidence checklist, wording you could use, what not to say and a confidence note.

Who already knows?

No one yet My manager The owner / other team A senior stakeholder Several people, but nothing changed Not sure

What have you already tried? choose any that apply

Chased for an update Cleared blockers Clarified priority Asked for a new date Reduced scope Raised it informally Not much yet

What evidence do you have? choose any that apply

Dates already missed No committed date Dependency still blocked Latest plan no longer adds up Capacity gap Customer / market date at risk Evidence is still thin

What route feels safest?

Through my manager first Direct to the decision owner Verbal first, then written Written note first Not sure

What tone do you need?

Direct and brief Collaborative Careful and diplomatic Formal / on the record No preference

Escalation pack

Your escalation pack

1. Decision to ask for

2. Why it needs deciding now

3. Who needs to hear it / who decides

4. Evidence to bring

5. Wording you could use

6. Hold / Flag / Raise read

7. Private note

8. Reminder

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Practical decision support for managers dealing with competing priorities, stakeholder demands and unclear delivery decisions.

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