Identification
Identifying Solution Fixation
Warning Signs You're Stuck on One Approach
Effort/Progress Disconnect
- High time investment, minimal forward movement
- Repeatedly hitting the same obstacles
Emotional Escalation
- Growing frustration with tools/technology
- Blaming "stupid" systems rather than questioning approach
Research Tunnel Vision
- Only searching variations of the same solution
- Not exploring alternative methods to achieve the goal
Jargon Trap
- Deep in technical specifics unrelated to actual outcome
- Speaking in solution language rather than goal language
Investment Bias
- Reluctance to abandon current approach due to sunk effort
- "I've come this far, I have to make this work"
Quick Diagnostic
Ask yourself: "If explaining my goal to someone else, would I start with the technical detail I'm stuck on, or describe what I'm actually trying to accomplish?"
If you'd start with the technical detail, you're likely solution-fixated.
Reset Action
Step back and reframe using abstraction laddering:
- Ladder up: "What is this for?" (keep asking until you reach the real goal)
- Ladder down: "What are all the ways this could be achieved?"
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