# Escalation

> Draft a clear, professional, unemotional escalation — the problem, impact, what's been tried, and a specific ask with a deadline. Use when the user says "escalate this", "write an escalation", "I need to raise this to leadership", "we're blocked and need help", or needs to ask for intervention without sounding alarmist or blaming.

- Skill: `janellecipriano/escalation` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add janellecipriano/escalation`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/janellecipriano/escalation/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- Author: janellecipriano (https://skillmd.com/u/janellecipriano)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/janellecipriano/escalation

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# Escalation

Draft an escalation that gets help fast by being calm, factual, and specific — not a complaint, a request for a decision or unblock.

## When to use
- A blocker, risk, or conflict needs a higher level of authority to resolve.
- The user needs help framing a hard message constructively.

## Principles
- **Facts, not feelings.** Describe impact objectively; avoid blame and adjectives.
- **Lead with the ask.** The reader should know within two sentences what you need from them.
- **Quantify impact.** Tie it to dates, dollars, scope, or risk leadership cares about.
- **Show your work.** What you've already tried signals this is a real escalation, not a first resort.
- **Make saying yes easy.** Offer options and a recommendation; give a clear deadline.

## Process
1. State the **ask** up front: what decision/action/resource you need, from whom, by when.
2. Describe the **situation** in 2–4 neutral sentences.
3. Quantify the **impact** if unresolved (timeline, cost, scope, risk).
4. Summarize **what's been tried** and why it wasn't enough.
5. Offer **options** with a recommendation.
6. Pick the **right audience and channel** and match the tone to the relationship.

## Output format
```
**Subject:** Decision needed by {{date}}: {{one-line ask}}

**Ask:** {{specific request}} from {{name}} by {{date}}.
**Situation:** {{neutral facts}}
**Impact if unresolved:** {{quantified}}
**Tried so far:** {{what + outcome}}
**Options:**
1. {{option}} — {{trade-off}}  ← recommended
2. {{option}} — {{trade-off}}
```
Keep it short and respectful. Escalation is about the problem, never the person.