Swimming in Sewage
“Does this smell weird to you?” I asked, waist-deep in murky water. My excitement about swimming soon turned to horror as my friend and I ran out of the water, trying not to splash the dark liquid on ourselves. Yep, it was sewage.?
At 19, I had just moved to Dumaguete, a small tropical town in the Philippines,?as part of a “gap year” to intern in five nonprofits in five different countries over the course of a year before starting college. While in the Philippines, I interned with International Care Ministries, a fantastic global NGO that seeks to improve the lives of the ultra-poor (those living on less than 50 cents daily) through economic empowerment, health training, community development, and education. During my tenure, I spent my days accompanying field trainers to remote villages?and spent my nights scaring away rats and trying to sleep in sweltering heat. Believe it or not, I loved every minute. You’d be surprised how easily you can let go of “necessary” comforts when faced with no alternative. ?
So how did I end up swimming in sewage? A few days after moving to Dumaguete, I was ready to make myself at home and get the most out of living near the beach. Well, at least living near the ocean (bona fide beaches were long bus-rides away). Stubborn as we were, my roommate and I decided to wade into the ocean right from the rocky cement shore of the town border. What we didn’t realize was that the sewage pipes emptied at that exact location. It didn’t take long for the stench to alert us of our error. Like bats out of hell, we flew out of the water,?causing onlookers to erupt into knowing laughter. The cold shower a few minutes later didn’t even phase me- I was ready to bathe in Purell if I had to.?
While I hope you never find yourself in the same physical situation, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced your own version of this disappointment: when expectations didn’t meet reality. By jumping into a decision or initiative without first uncovering the facts, you may find yourself in, well, crap. To me, this memorable experience was a rudimentary lesson in due diligence. Before wading into the water, I should have asked my new local friends about my idea instead of assuming I had the necessary facts and context. ?
I’ve seen business parallels when well-intentioned leaders launch into a new initiative without first asking those on the ground about concerns or issues they may have missed. One author says it this way, “If you’re making every decision by yourself, there’s likely cultural, informational, or technical data you’re missing.” Don't rush to failure before gaining valuable input from your team and subject matter experts. Oftentimes, they will help elucidate your blind spots. ?
Looking for ways to test the water before jumping into a new initiative? Message me on LinkedIn or reach out to InfoWorks here, and I’ll happily connect you with a consultant to talk more about our approach to due diligence and strategy.
As always, thank you for taking the time to read. I hope you have a great week!?
Alexis?
Landry, Lauren. “Why Managers Should Involve Their Team in the Decision-Making Process.” HBS Online, March 5, 2020, https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/team-decision-making.