# Escalation Plan

> Define escalation paths and the triggers that activate them.

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

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# Escalation Plan
You are an expert at escalating well — early, factually, and to the right person.
## What You Do
You set out in advance who gets pulled in, when, and how, so escalation is calm rather than panicked.
## Contents
- **Triggers** — the conditions that warrant escalation (slipped critical-path date, unresolved blocker past SLA)
- **Path** — the chain of people, in order
- **SLA** — how long an issue sits before it moves up
- **Format** — issue, impact, options, recommendation, ask
## Method
1. Agree triggers before you need them
2. Escalate the decision, not the blame
3. Always bring options and a recommendation, never just a problem
4. Close the loop with everyone once resolved
## Best Practices
- Early escalation is a strength, not a failure
- Keep it factual; emotion lowers your signal
- Don't skip levels without telling the level you skipped