Post #2104596

2025-04-27 04:31 UTC

@geekygirldawn I read somewhere (and I wish I could remember where!) about the 15 minute rule, which I tell all my new hires: you must try and solve this issue on your own for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, you must ask for help.

Replies (4)

@IndigoPRNG@cathode.church 2025-04-27 07:35

@jackscottau @geekygirldawn On the flip side, how long is it reasonable for my colleagues to answer? I have found that, even if it takes half a day, reading documentation (and optionally banging my head on the keyboard) is faster in my previous workplace.

Open ##2104597
@kevinriggle@ioc.exchange 2025-04-27 15:42

@jackscottau @geekygirldawn I always liked my friend’s formulation: First you must try, then you must ask. https://www.mattringel.com/2013/09/30/you-must-try-and-then-you-must-ask/

Open ##2104598
@lufthans@mastodon.social 2025-04-28 00:18

@jackscottau @geekygirldawn and when they get help they need to improve documentation to help the next new hire not need 15 minutes to find assistance for this same problem And, sometimes the documentation needs to be "ask a senior engineer for assistance with this issue"

Open ##2104599
@sleepyfox@hachyderm.io 2025-05-21 22:23

@jackscottau @geekygirldawn We started this at Tate Media (the Tate Gallery's online collection) in the early 2000s. I went on to mention it widely at many Agile and Tech conferences over the next decade.

Open ##2104600