Desire Paths

A Desire Path, according to Merriam-Webster, is “an unplanned route or path (such as one worn into a grassy surface by repeated foot traffic) that is used by pedestrians in preference to, or in the absence of, a designated alternative (such as a paved pathway).

Desire paths pop up everywhere. In nature, you have trails. In cities, you see unplanned walkways. In non-profits, you see processes or people get circumvented. Desire paths are everywhere if you know what to look for. It’s what we do with them that speaks volumes to our nonprofit culture.

Sometimes we leave the Desire Paths as is. We leave well enough alone and wait for a culminating event to make it something that needs to be addressed. There are unspoken allowances made for some desire paths. For example: “We follow this content proofing process, EXCEPT when that content is about a Golf Event. For that, we don’t have to have it proofed, it can go straight to Susan’s inbox.”

Sometimes we shut the Desire Path down. This can be a good thing, if it is a protection measure. But shutting it down could actually tamp down creativity and efficiency simply to preserve a process. For example: “We have to keep doing it this way, because it’s how we’ve always done it. Walk the extra steps, or else.”

Sometimes we encourage Desire Paths, inspect them closely, and incorporate them. For example: “That way actually makes 100% sense. Let’s do it that way moving forward!”

Here is a path evolution in one image. The image shows the Virginia Tech Drill Field in Blacksburg, Virginia. At Virginia Tech the Drill Field is the heart of the campus. In the late 80’s (when our own CEO attended) there were only paths straight across, three of them. This apparently worked when the University was filled with Cadets instead of non-military students. But soon the students made their preferences known. The long diagonal running to the right is the Desire Path to the local McDonalds Restaurant. It was dirt. Then it was wood chips. Then the University paved it.

What have you “paved” in your organization?

Virginia Tech Drillfield showing planned paved paths, paved desire paths, and unpaved desire paths.