Big D, Little d, and the Real Power Dynamics

Securing buy-in doesn’t happen in a vacuum—it depends on who’s involved and how they show up.

I once had a boss who talked about “big D” and “little d” decision-makers. The big D is the person with official authority. The little d is the person who might not have the title, but definitely has pull. Maybe it’s someone who’s been around forever, someone who understands the politics, or someone who can shift the room with one comment.

These are the people we need to be thinking about early. The ones who could either help smooth the path—or quietly block it.

Strong communicators know how to read the landscape. We don’t need buy-in from everyone, and trying to get it can slow us down. The key is knowing who really matters, when to engage them, and how to bring them along in a way that feels collaborative—not performative.

Who are your little d decision-makers—and are you factoring them in early enough?