Escalation is a very powerful tool in the professional workplace. However, like anything powerful it should be used with caution. Used well, escalation can be used to snuff out issues and help you get the job done, misused they can earn you a reputation as some who “cries wolf” at the first sign of trouble and uses escalation because they do not have sufficient influence.
Here are some simple tips on using escalation in your day-to-day job:
- Seek solutions first – it’s much better to escalate to your manager and inform him of a conflict and how you resolved it. You must exhaust all avenues of resolution before escalation – it is the last resort, not the first resort
- Keep it logical – when you do need to escalate, keep emotion out of your language in describing the situation. Make it clear to who you are escalating how you would like their help to resolve the situation
- Repair the relationships – when you escalate you are likely to upset some people. Try to repair the damage as soon after the event as you can, or you will find it hard to seek their co-operation on future projects
Escalation is useful, but use it with caution and it will serve you well.