The techniques and frameworks of Do No Harm are not simply about understanding a context more completely. They demand action. We do not intervene to avoid impact. We intervene precisely in order to create change.

Some options are in fact bad options. They won’t or don’t provide the results you want or expect. This is not a crisis. It is an opportunity for testing and learning faster.

When you encounter ongoing or worsening problems, the first thing to do is to revisit your analysis of the patterns. You can always change what you are doing, but only if you have a solid idea of the change you want.

• Did you identify a pattern?
• Is your Option targeting that pattern?
• Did you identify the right pattern?
• What other patterns could be causing the change in Dividers and/or Connectors?

If, after reviewing the patterns you see that your organization is not responsible for the worsening problems, revisit your context analysis. What else is changing in the context that might be having an impact?

• Review your list of Dividers and Connectors.
• Are you missing a key Divider or Connector?
• Are any of your most significant Dividers and Connectors not changing? A static Divider or Connector is not providing feedback on social dynamics. Think about replacing it in order to improve your sense of the fluidity of the social dynamics.

Even if you didn’t cause the problem, you can often find creative ways to respond to it!

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Related Topics
How to develop Options and support Opportunities
Shared language and explaining Options
What do we do when we are having Negative Impacts?
Using the Do No Harm Frameworks