Not always in sequence, and not always all five. Some clients come in at ELEVATION because they already have clarity on where they are. Some return to MAP after execution surfaces new constraints. The framework is non-linear in practice. What matters is knowing which phase you're in and what it requires.
The framework is non-linear and businesses do not always move through the phases in a fixed order. Some clients begin in ELEVATION because they already have clarity on their current state and required changes, so the engagement starts at execution and leverage without revisiting earlier diagnostic phases.
Other clients cycle back to MAP after execution reveals new constraints. Growth introduces new problems: a business that was in LEVERAGE a year ago may find itself back in FOG after a key hire, a market shift, or a change in client portfolio. The framework is therefore a diagnostic lens rather than a one-way escalator.
The critical task is to correctly identify which phase the business is in right now and what that phase specifically requires. That is precisely what the Diagnostic is designed to produce.
Related: How do I know which phase I'm in · What makes the Fulcrum Approach different · What does the ongoing partnership look like