Weak Connectors are not Dividers

People who use Do No Harm continually analyze their situations according to the issues and factors that divide individuals and groups from each other and the issues and factors that connect individuals and groups. These two basic categories of Dividers and Connectors provide them with a depth of understanding of the contexts where they work and of the impacts of their work on those contexts. Using these two categories for the basis of their program designs makes a significant difference in understanding, insight, and effectiveness.

Weak Connectors are not Dividers

How we define an issue influences the options and tactics we consider in order to work on that issue. When we define something as a Divider, we start looking for ways to stop it or to reduce it. But this is not always the appropriate response to situations where people appear “divided”.

Sometimes, when people appear “divided”, it is because a Connector is weak, not because a Divider is strong. In these cases, trying to reduce a Divider will not work. Our options need to address the actual issue.

In Myanmar, a group of development workers realized that the Village Development Committee and the teachers at the local school did not get along with one another. They quickly classified this as a Divider.
 
The tactical implications were clear, but difficult to implement. How could they help reduce this Divider? What exactly would they be reducing?
 
They reframed the problem instead as a weak Connector. They then understood that they had an opportunity to build something. When they brought this understanding to the VDC, the parents in the VDC immediately agreed to rethink their relationship with the teachers and to repair it. The local NGO agreed to find ways to support the relationship building process.
 
In this way a Connector was seen, then supported and increased.

Previous Page “That person or group is a Divider/Connector”
Next Page How to do a Dividers/Connectors Analysis

Related Topics
Assumptions about Dividers
Assumptions about Connectors
“Our organization is a Connector/Divider”
“We can create Connectors to bring people together”
Understanding Dividers and Connectors
Do No Harm SAVES: Categories for Disaggregating a Context

71 Comments

  1. Hello would you mind letting me know which web host you’re using? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most. Can you recommend a good hosting provider at a fair price? Thanks a lot, I appreciate it!

  2. Its like you read my mind! You seem to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a little bit, but other than that, this is magnificent blog. A great read. I’ll certainly be back.

  3. I’ve been surfing online greater than 3 hours these days, but I never found any attention-grabbing article like yours. It¦s pretty price enough for me. In my view, if all site owners and bloggers made good content material as you probably did, the web will likely be a lot more useful than ever before.

  4. Great article and straight to the point. I don’t know if this is really the best place to ask but do you people have any ideea where to employ some professional writers? Thanks 🙂

  5. After study a few of the blog posts on your website now, and I truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.

  6. You actually make it appear so easy along with your presentation however I in finding this matter to be really something which I feel I might by no means understand. It sort of feels too complicated and extremely large for me. I am looking forward for your next put up, I¦ll try to get the hang of it!

  7. Hey just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the pictures aren’t loading correctly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different web browsers and both show the same results.

  8. Thanks for the marvelous posting! I truly enjoyed reading it, you’re a great author.I will remember to bookmark your blog and definitely will come back later in life. I want to encourage continue your great work, have a nice evening!

  9. Great V I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your website. I had no trouble navigating through all the tabs and related information ended up being truly easy to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it in the least. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or anything, site theme . a tones way for your client to communicate. Excellent task..

  10. Hello my family member! I wish to say that this post is amazing, great written and come with almost all important infos. I’d like to peer extra posts like this .

  11. Thanks for sharing superb informations. Your website is so cool. I am impressed by the details that you’ve on this blog. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found simply the info I already searched all over the place and just could not come across. What a great web site.

  12. What i don’t realize is in reality how you are no longer really much more smartly-liked than you may be right now. You are very intelligent. You recognize thus significantly with regards to this topic, produced me in my opinion consider it from numerous varied angles. Its like men and women don’t seem to be interested except it?¦s something to accomplish with Lady gaga! Your personal stuffs excellent. At all times take care of it up!

  13. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!

  14. I was curious if you ever thought of changing the page layout of your site? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or two images. Maybe you could space it out better?

  15. I’ve recently started a web site, the information you offer on this website has helped me tremendously. Thanks for all of your time & work. “If you see a snake, just kill it. Don’t appoint a committee on snakes.” by H. Ross Perot.

  16. Hello, i feel that i saw you visited my website thus i came to “go back the favor”.I am attempting to to find issues to enhance my website!I assume its ok to use some of your concepts!!

  17. Does your blog have a contact page? I’m having a tough time locating it but, I’d like to shoot you an email. I’ve got some creative ideas for your blog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, great website and I look forward to seeing it improve over time.

  18. I’m extremely impressed along with your writing skills and also with the layout to your blog. Is this a paid subject or did you modify it your self? Anyway keep up the excellent high quality writing, it’s uncommon to peer a nice blog like this one today..

  19. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!

  20. of course like your web-site however you need to take a look at the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very bothersome to inform the reality nevertheless I’ll surely come again again.

  21. I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog and was curious what all is needed to get setup? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very internet smart so I’m not 100 sure. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers

  22. Neotonics is a groundbreaking probiotic supplement designed to address both skin aging and gut health concerns. This innovative product combines potent bacteria with nine natural ingredients to target the root causes of aging skin and digestive issues, promoting a healthier, more youthful appearance.

  23. My husband and i have been now happy that Peter managed to complete his survey with the precious recommendations he got out of your weblog. It’s not at all simplistic to just happen to be offering secrets people might have been making money from. And we also discover we now have the writer to give thanks to for that. All the illustrations you’ve made, the simple web site menu, the friendships you will assist to promote – it is most terrific, and it’s really leading our son and us consider that this article is interesting, and that is wonderfully vital. Thank you for the whole thing!

  24. Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I’ve truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. In any case I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!

  25. Hi there, just became aware of your weblog thru Google, and found that it is truly informative. I am gonna watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate when you continue this in future. Numerous other people will probably be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!

  26. Write more, thats all I have to say. Literally, it seems as though you relied on the video to make your point. You definitely know what youre talking about, why throw away your intelligence on just posting videos to your site when you could be giving us something informative to read?

  27. The following time I read a blog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I imply, I know it was my option to learn, however I truly thought youd have one thing interesting to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you possibly can repair for those who werent too busy in search of attention.

  28. Very great post. I simply stumbled upon your blog and wished to mention that I’ve truly loved surfing around your weblog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your rss feed and I’m hoping you write once more soon!

  29. Thank you for another wonderful article. Where else may anybody get that type of info in such an ideal manner of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the search for such information.

  30. I have been exploring for a bit for any high quality articles or blog posts on this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I ultimately stumbled upon this site. Reading this info So i am glad to exhibit that I have an incredibly just right uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I most undoubtedly will make sure to do not omit this website and provides it a glance regularly.

  31. Greetings from Idaho! I’m bored at work so I decided to browse your website on my iphone during lunch break. I enjoy the information you provide here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home. I’m amazed at how fast your blog loaded on my cell phone .. I’m not even using WIFI, just 3G .. Anyhow, great site!

Leave a Reply

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>