unblock

name	unblock
description	Diagnose a stalled task and suggest the smallest next action to get it moving

Unblock

Diagnose why a task has stalled and suggest the smallest possible next action to get it moving again.

Instructions

When the user invokes /unblock [task name], run through all steps in sequence.

If no task name is provided, scan Tasks/ for the most obviously stalled item (in-progress with no recent progress log entry) and suggest it.

Step 1: Read the Task

1. Find and read the task file in Tasks/
2. Note: status, priority, created date, last progress log entry, sub-tasks (checked vs unchecked)
3. Calculate how long it's been stalled (days since last progress log entry or creation if no log)

Step 2: Diagnose the Stall

Check for common stall patterns:

Pattern	Signal	Likely Cause
Empty sub-tasks	- [ ] with no text	Task was never broken down
No progress log	Missing or only "Created" entry	Never actually started
Blocked dependency	References another task or person	Waiting on someone else
Too big	5+ unchecked sub-tasks, broad title	Needs to be split
Missing context	No goal reference, vague description	Unclear why it matters
Unclear next action	Sub-tasks are vague or outcome-level	Needs concrete first step

Step 3: Search for Context

1. Search Context/ for files related to the task topic
2. Search Context/Meeting Notes/ for recent discussions about this work
3. If MCP tools are available, search Slack for recent threads mentioning this topic
4. Check GOALS.md — is this task still aligned to an active goal? If not, flag it.

Step 4: Suggest the Unblock

Based on the diagnosis, suggest one concrete next action. Not a plan — a single thing the user can do in the next 15 minutes:

• If never broken down: "The first sub-task should be: [specific action]"
• If waiting on someone: "Send [person] this message: [draft a short nudge]"
• If too big: "Split this into [2-3 smaller tasks]. Start with: [the first one]"
• If unclear why it matters: "This doesn't connect to any current goal. Archive it or tell me why it matters."
• If unclear next action: "The concrete next step is: [specific action with a verb]"

Step 5: Offer to Update

Ask: "Want me to update the task file with this next action and a progress log entry?"

If yes:

1. Add the suggested next action as the first unchecked sub-task
2. Add a progress log entry: YYYY-MM-DD: Unblocked — [diagnosis and next step]
3. Update status to s (started) if it was n (not started)

Output Format

Keep it short. The diagnosis should be 1-2 sentences. The suggested action should be one concrete step, not a plan. The goal is momentum, not perfection.