What’s that principle where you don’t know you’re asking the wrong question because you’ve got this idea in your head on how to do something, so you search frustratingly. If you could step up a level and find the right question, you’d find a well established, efficient solution.
Related to unknown unknowns I guess, but I came across a phrase or word encapsulating it, and now I can’t remember or (ironically) find it.
ETA: It’s the XY Problem, thanks Bophades@midwest.social.
Take a step back and explain context. I’ve found, when working as a subject matter expert, people focus on the wrong parts of the problem when asking the question and will try to optimize their question for the wrong thing.
Explaining how the problem came about adds context and helps you ask the questions you don’t know to ask.