How to ask for help

Modern systems are too complex for any of us to know everything about them.

Many of the problems we encounter we have never seen before.

Communities built around various technologies are what fill this gap.

So the superpower in this age is first having the humility to ask for help, and then knowing who and how to ask for help.

Before asking anything, do a reasonable amount of work.

Someone once told me he puts thirty minutes into a problem before asking a co-worker for help, which seems like a good baseline. Any less than that you are likely needlessly interrupting and distracting someone from their work. Any more than that you may be spinning your wheels needlessly. The nature of the problem may justify more at times.

Sometimes our questions are met with silence.

Don't just remind people that you need help.

Do more work, and bring more information, and then ask again.

If you ask more questions, always bring more information.

Help people help you.