The FMC will tell you when a Step Climb is due.

On the VNAV CRZ PAGE, enter the new altitude in the FMC (LSK L1). e.g. I'm flying at FL310, when the FMC PROG page, and VNAV CRZ page, show that a step climb is due NOW, I enter the new altitude into the Altitude Hold Indicator, then change FL310 to *FL350 on the VNAV CRZ page (LSK L1) and then press the EXEC button. The aircraft will initiate a climb to FL350 straight away.


* An ICAO Step Climb equals 4000 feet. I sometimes use 2000 foot Step Climbs (just because I can ;)).