Making Progress Despite Blockers

Rule

When facing multiple blockers, use parallel tracks, partial progress, and indirect support work rather than declaring complete blockage.

Context

When primary work items are blocked by external dependencies (approvals, reviews, decisions). Applies in both interactive and autonomous contexts.

Detection

Observable signals indicating opportunity for alternative progress:

• Multiple items blocked on same person/approval
• Waiting for PR reviews or merge approvals
• Need strategic input or decisions
• Thinking "nothing I can do until X"

Pattern

Six strategies:

1. Parallel Work Tracks: Work across 3+ areas; when Track 1 blocked, work on Track 2
2. Partial Progress: Can't merge? Add tests, improve docs, address comments preemptively
3. Indirect Support Work: Document, prepare runbooks, build monitoring for blocked items
4. Context Filtering: Find unblocked work from your task backlog
5. Continuation Work: Enhance existing stable systems
6. Preparation Work: Write follow-up drafts, research alternatives, gather data

Automated discovery: Use a project monitoring service to surface actionable work across repos. See Project Monitoring Session Patterns.

Real Blocker Criteria

Only declare "Real Blocker" after checking ALL six strategies:

• ✓ All parallel tracks exhausted (3+ areas)
• ✓ No partial progress possible
• ✓ No indirect support work available
• ✓ Backlog filtered — no unblocked items found
• ✓ No continuation work available
• ✓ No preparation work possible

Outcome

Following these patterns results in:

• Continuous progress: Always moving forward on something
• Reduced waiting: Don't block on single dependency
• Faster unblocking: Prepared when blockers lift

Related

• Maintaining Readiness During Blocked Periods - Stay useful while waiting on others
• Strategic Completion Leverage When Blocked - Finish the highest-leverage adjacent work
• Autonomous Session Structure - Overall session workflow
• Project Monitoring Session Patterns - Automated discovery of actionable work
• Close the Loop - Automation approach