A shaft operator assembly for moving a door assembly which includes a movable door leaf and a door shaft attached to the door leaf for common movement together. A shaft connecting unit includes a shaft connecting element and a connecting plate element and connects a driven member of the shaft operator assembly with minimal space requirements to the door shaft. The connecting plate element, which can be secured to or integrally configured with the driven member, is relatively thin to permit the jack shaft operator and connecting plate element to be shifted into a fitted position even where little space is available. The shaft connecting element is mountable non-rotatably on the door shaft and includes an axial opening extending through the shaft connecting element for receiving the door shaft.