Case Study #1: The Influence Domino: How I Moved the One Who Moved Them All
Years ago, I joined a large, complex organisation to support the rollout of a nationwide technology upgrade — one designed to benefit emergency and medical services across the country.
Important work? Absolutely.
But the rollout had stalled. And not for lack of funding or tech.
It came down to something less visible but more powerful: data sharing — or more specifically, the fear around it.
The Real Issue?
We needed key information from six major service providers — a mix of public and private — to connect critical systems and help identify vulnerable people still relying on outdated platforms.
But each partner had legitimate concerns, so no one wanted to go first.
So, things stayed stuck. For 18 months.
That’s when I came in — not to “fix it all,” but to map the mess and find a strategic path through it.
My Approach?
Rather than chasing six different yeses, I asked a simple question:
“Who’s the one person who could tip the rest?”
I focused all my energy on influencing the domino — the most respected, most cautious leader in the group. If I could move that person, I believed the others would follow.
The Pivot Moment
I arranged for all six decision-makers to meet in person — just for a few hours.
One room. No long presentations.
I shared one slide with one number:
The number of people who remained invisible to safety systems without access to updated data.
Then I told a scenario. A story.
One that gently highlighted what was at stake — not to pressure, but to clarify.
And then? I let it sit. No push. No posturing. Just space.
The Outcome
Within 48 hours, the influential domino gave their yes.
Shortly after, the others followed.
Momentum returned.
And by Christmas, we had already begun transitioning vulnerable users to safer technology.
It wasn’t magic.
It was method.
What I Learned (And Still Use)
I now call this my Get Sh*t Done Method — a three-step lens I use when things feel stuck or foggy:
🔴 MUST – What absolutely must happen to shift this?
🔵 SHOULD – Who should be in the room (not just cc’d)?
🟣 COULD – What could we unlock — if we change our approach?
It’s simple, not simplistic.
And in complex, high-stakes projects, clarity beats complexity every time.
Why I’m Sharing This
Every major project eventually hits a moment where momentum stalls.
Where politics creep in. Where people are stuck or overwhelmed.
If you’re in that space — trying to move something important with too many cooks, agendas, or legacy systems — and you don’t want to wait another 18 months...
Let’s talk.
Sometimes you don’t need more meetings. You just need a shift in influence.
I’m Mary — Stakeholder Whisperer and Wild Card. And I help people move what matters.
✅ Takeaways
Focus your energy on the person who can unlock the rest
Influence is about clarity, not pressure
Don’t try to move the room. Move the right person.
Use the MUST. SHOULD. COULD. lens to cut through fog
No big decks needed — just timing, trust, and truth.
