Protecting your problem solvers

"You have a hard problem? Sarah will fix it!"

As engineers gain experience and tenure, they inevitably face increasingly complex challenges. It's the nature of our field—the toughest problems land on the desks of our most seasoned professionals.

While it's gratifying to hear, this praise can mask a hidden danger. Many underestimate the mental toll of constant problem-solving. When your daily view is an endless parade of issues, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking everything is broken.
To prevent burnout and maintain a healthy team, technical leaders must actively guard the mental well-being of their problem solvers. Here are key strategies to implement:

💪 Empower them to say no: Encourage your team to communicate when they're overwhelmed. Create a culture where it's okay to say, "I need a break from troubleshooting right now."

⚖️ Balance complex problems with defined feature work: Alternate between debugging sessions and scoped feature development. This variety can provide mental relief and restore a sense of progress.

2️⃣ Promote pair programming: Share the load of complex problems. This reduces mental strain and spreads crucial knowledge, building a more resilient team.

🌳 Advocate for breaks: Resist the urge to push through exhaustion. Encourage team members to step away, take a walk, and return with fresh perspectives.

As leaders, we must ask ourselves: Are we repeatedly tapping the same individuals for every challenging issue? How can we better distribute these tasks to protect our key problem solvers?

While some thrive on tackling complex issues, it's crucial to safeguard their boundaries. Continuous exposure to high-stress problem-solving can lead to mental fatigue and eventual burnout.