Escalation management: Tips for making faster, better decisions

Source: CIO Magazine

Escalation is a process for resolving conflicts when teams face disagreements that cannot be settled at the current level. It is essential across all organizational levels, from individual contributors to C-suite leaders. Managing escalations effectively can lead to faster resolutions and reinforce collaboration within teams. Unfortunately, many professionals view escalations negatively, associating them with personal failure, lack of accountability, or damage to working relationships. Creating a culture of trust and transparency is crucial to encourage escalation as a collaborative tool.

To effectively manage escalations, professionals should first attempt to resolve issues independently before escalating. If unsuccessful, they should document the problem’s context, customer and business impacts, and potential solutions. A well-organized escalation process can minimize confusion and expedite resolutions. Leaders play a pivotal role in this process by promoting data-driven discussions and providing clear guidelines. They should use escalations as educational opportunities, fostering problem-solving skills among employees, and monitoring the frequency of escalations to assess organizational health.

👉 Pročitaj original: CIO Magazine