How can you determine when to escalate risks to senior stakeholders?

1 Define escalation criteria

Before you start any project, you should agree with your senior stakeholders on the criteria for escalating risks, such as the impact, probability, urgency, or severity of the risk. These criteria should be aligned with the project's scope, goals, and priorities, and documented in a risk management plan. Having clear escalation criteria will help you avoid over-reporting or under-reporting risks, and ensure that you escalate the right risks to the right people at the right time.

2 Assess escalation triggers

Once you have defined the escalation criteria, you need to monitor and assess the risks regularly, and identify any triggers that indicate the need for escalation. A trigger could be a change in the risk's status, a new risk emerging, a risk exceeding a threshold, or a risk affecting a critical path or milestone. You should use a risk register or dashboard to track and update the risks, and alert your senior stakeholders if any triggers are activated.

3 Prepare escalation reports

When you escalate a risk to your senior stakeholders, you need to prepare a concise and clear report that summarizes the risk, its impact, its causes, its mitigation actions, and its recommendations. You should use a standard format or template for your escalation reports, and include relevant data, evidence, and visuals to support your analysis. You should also highlight the benefits and trade-offs of different options, and propose a preferred solution.

4 Communicate escalation messages

The way you communicate your escalation messages to your senior stakeholders is crucial for maintaining a positive and collaborative relationship. You should use an appropriate channel and tone for your messages, and tailor them to the expectations and preferences of your senior stakeholders. You should also be proactive, transparent, and respectful in your communication, and avoid blaming or criticizing others. You should focus on the facts, the solutions, and the value of the project.

5 Follow up on escalation actions

After you escalate a risk to your senior stakeholders, you need to follow up on the actions that were agreed upon, and report on the progress and outcomes. You should keep your senior stakeholders informed of any changes or issues that arise, and seek their feedback and support if needed. You should also document and update the risk register or dashboard with the new information, and close the risk if it is resolved or no longer relevant.

6 Learn from escalation experiences

Finally, you should use your risk escalation experiences as an opportunity to learn and improve your risk management skills and practices. You should evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of your escalation processes, and identify any gaps, challenges, or best practices. You should also solicit and incorporate feedback from your senior stakeholders, and celebrate and acknowledge any successes or achievements. You should apply your learnings to future projects, and share them with your team and peers.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?