Climate change is a daunting challenge for most managers and planners as they attempt to conduct their daily work. Often adaptation frameworks and theory seem equally unapproachable, resulting in practitioners getting lost in the process. Recent State of Adaptation Surveys indicate that even those who know they need to be incorporating the reality of climate change into their work are sometimes not making it through the necessary steps. The Adaptation Ladder of Engagement is a simple tool to track progress and map out next steps. It guides scientists, practitioners and communicators through seven steps to effective adaptation: awareness, assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring, integration and sharing. The Ladder has proven a powerful tool for overcoming inertia in adaptation initiatives and identifying weak links in the adaptation chain of effort. It can also help analyze the distribution of effort across different elements of the adaptation process, highlighting aspects of adaptation that have received the most attention and those needing additional focus. Case studies from applying the Adaptation Ladder of Engagement illustrate its utility for detecting areas of need, for increasing engagement with practitioners, and for helping adaptation experts understand the areas of greatest need