The stepworking method

The first nine Steps represent the recovery process. The last three Steps represent the daily programme.

How to go through the first Nine Steps:

  • Proceed systematically starting from Step One:
    • Read the material and follow the instructions in the page on this website dedicated to the relevant Step
  • The first nine Steps comprise various elements:
    • Discussion between sponsor and sponsee
    • Reading and considering
    • Answering questions (in writing) and other written work
    • Sharing with others
    • Prayer
    • Making amends
  • Proceed task by task:
    • The sponsor explains the task to the sponsee
    • The sponsor answers any questions the sponsee has
    • The sponsee works on the task
    • Ideally: 1+ hours on working days; 2+ hours on non-working days
  • Step buddies:
    • It's very helpful for the sponsee to be working on assignments together with other people in recovery
    • We could call these step buddies
    • It's ideal if these people are working the programme the same way
    • If they're not, confusion will arise
    • People from the same home group or sponsorship network are usually ideal
    • This will take the form of:
      • Running stepwork past the step buddy for input
      • Walking through stepwork where the individual is particularly overwhelmed
    • This does not take the place of sponsorship but complements it
    • It gives the sponsee a great network of people to rely on
    • The sponsee acquires a more rounded view of the programme
  • Once a task is complete, the sponsee reports in with the sponsor
  • The sponsor and sponsee discuss the work and go onto the next task
  • If a task is not completed within 24 hours, it's a good idea for the sponsee to check in with the sponsor and report in on what they have managed to complete
    • This keeps the lines of communication open
    • This ensures that a backlog of material does not build up
  • A good method of reading assigned passages from the Big Book:
    • Make notes either in the book (though there's not much space) ...
    • ... or in a notebook (physical or electronic)
    • Note down:
      • Key ideas
      • Points of identification
      • Points that aren't clear
      • Points of resistance
      • Questions
    • This produces a great starting point for discussion
  • Sometimes people like to mark up their Big Books with highlighter / marker pens
    • A colour for descriptions of alcoholism
    • A colour for spiritual principles
    • A colour for instructions
    • A colour for promises: great things that happen if you follow the instructions
    • A colour for what not to do
    • A colour for warnings: bad things that happen if you don't follow the instructions
It's very much down to the sponsor how strict and hands-on or relaxed and hands-off the sponsor would like to be with the sponsee. Different approaches suit different temperaments. If something works, continue doing it. If it doesn't work, maybe try something else.

Other resources

This website sets out a skeleton for how to go through the Steps.

Most people need and want other types of input into the process, so feel free to use other resources such as:
  • Discussing the Steps with friends
  • Attending groups that focus on the Steps
  • Attending workshops that focus on the Steps
  • Listening to recordings of individual talks and whole workshops on the Steps
  • Reading commentaries and articles on the Steps and on specific passages in the Big Book
  • Other spiritual readings
A resource for more in-depth examination of the Steps and other recovery and spirituality-related matters can be found here.

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