How individual contributors get stuck (2017)
> Noticing how people get stuck is a super power, and one that many great tech leads (and yes, managers) rely on to get big things done<p>Taking it one step further. Noticing how you — yourself — get stuck is a superpower. But it's hard...really hard.<p>When I get stuck on troubleshooting an issue, I can sometimes fall in this trap that my wife calls the "blackhole." I obsess over it. I cannot rid the problem from my mind. My 2.5 year old even sees it in my eyes ; she'll glance up at me, wondering where I am.<p>Before reaching this "blackhole" state, I can start to feel when I get tunnel vision.... at which point, I distance myself from the problem.<p>Hands off the keyboard.<p>Go for a walk.<p>And almost EVERY damn time, I'm able to solve the problem easily. Just needed a fresh pair of (my own) eyes, a moment to get "unstuck".