Leading Up the Chain: if your boss isn't making a decision in a timely manner or providing necessary support, you should:

• A. Ignore the issue
• B. Seek support from your team; seek support from others in the chain of command; seek support from external resources
• C. Escalate to external regulators
• D. Replace the boss

Answer: (B)

When you’re leading up the chain, you own the outcome and must keep progress moving even if your direct boss isn’t making timely decisions. The best approach is to pull in the right people who can unblock the situation: your team for momentum and concrete options, others higher up in the chain of command who have the authority to push decisions, and external resources if appropriate to provide expertise or alternatives. This keeps work advancing, clarifies what decisions are needed, and creates accountability without waiting passively or bypassing proper channels.

Ignoring the issue leaves the project stuck and erodes trust. Escalating to external regulators is not appropriate for internal decision-making and can harm relationships and credibility. Replacing the boss isn’t something you can or should do on your own; it’s outside the normal process and can cause more disruption.