Common mistakes when improving local life
Over time, we've gained valuable insights into development. Let's take a look at common mistakes to steer clear of.
By doing so, we can save time and resources by avoiding ineffective strategies. Keep an eye out for these common issues, and if you come across them, don't hesitate to speak up.
“I know what local People need.”
If you claim to understand the needs of local people without systematically asking them, it likely indicates you're relying on guesswork. Guesses involve assuming something is right or wrong, but the accuracy remains uncertain until verified. It's akin to predicting the winning lottery numbers without checking the actual draw.
Sometimes, we're scared to ask local people what they care about because we worry it might reveal to others we don't know everything. Your job isn't to know everything; it's to listen to people and help make positive changes. Making things better in local areas means being good at listening. As you listen, you start to figure out people's problems.
Improving local life is a lot about not being too full of yourself. Even if you're sure you have the answer, it's important to wait a bit. I know it's tough—I often feel i have the answer too. Let's take a moment together. What happens when we say our idea first? Well, often, others don't say anything. They go along with what we said. This means we might miss out on some excellent ideas. It means you might not hear different ways of looking at things that could improve your idea. To sum it up, talking first doesn't help anyone. Listen to the people first. If, after listening, you still think your idea is good, then share it.
Personal interest versus local People’s well-being
It's a recurring pattern: individuals often prioritize their personal interests over the local community's well-being. We must move away from a competitive mindset to truly improve local life. Avoid collaborating with those who put their interests first, as this can lead to disproportionate benefits for them and erode trust.
When engaging with individuals interested in local improvement, start by asking, 'Why are you involved?' Understanding their motivation helps filter out undesirable team members. While some may deceive about their intentions, trust your intuition. Although challenging to rationalize, intuition is often correct. What is your intuition telling you?
Should you decide to partner with someone, stay observant of their actions. Do their actions align with their words? Do they provide transparency about their endeavors? Consider the feedback from others collaborating with them.
Solving symptoms and not root causes
Imagine local people reporting challenges with crop pests damaging their harvests. You approach them and say, "I have a solution. I know someone who produces pesticides." The farmers take the pesticides and use them whenever pests appear.
However, are you addressing the root cause or the symptom?
You're addressing the symptom. Let me explain why.
Pests are coming on the crops for a reason. Using pesticides deals with the visible issue, but it doesn't fix why pests are attracted to the crops in the first place. To solve the problem at its core, you need to identify and address the root cause. Research is necessary, and it could involve factors like soil health.
There's a technique to help pinpoint the root cause of a challenge, and I describe it under "Ask Local People."
I should also add that People around you will be very happy to help you fix your symptoms. Why? Because there is more cash to be made if you only fix symptoms. Why? Because the root cause is not fixed. It means that problems are likely to reappear. If the problem is likely to reappear, they are likely to call you again! It means potential business for you.
“We need money.”
Putting money as a dependency to get anything done is a red flag. This topic is so essential and recurring that i have created a dedicated page for it: First, “We need money!”. Please read it before moving forward.
In a nutshell, if anyone asks you for money first to improve local life, it’s a red flag.
If you think i am missing another common mistake you have encountered, please let me know. I would happily mention it on this page and credit you for it.