How Dracula Could Have Survived

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Happy Monday my friend ☕️ 

Yesterday was Freedom Day here in South Africa.

It commemorates the first post-apartheid elections held on that day in 1994.

And a return of essential human rights for many of us.

Today though, we are talking about Dracula,

And The Stakeholder Matrix.

Grab your coffee,

Let’s chat!

A Short Story: Dracula’s Fatal Miscalculation

Count Dracula wanted one thing:

To expand his influence beyond Transylvania.

So he moved to London,
Thinking fear alone would be enough to succeed.
But those with power and growing interest had another agenda....

The aristocrats conspired.
The villagers sharpened their knives.
Professor Van Helsing turned their fear into rebellion.

Dracula sensed the shift, but dismissed it.
He believed his strength alone would protect him.
When the torches lit the night sky, it was already too late.

By dawn, Dracula had a stake driven through his heart.

He didn’t fall from weakness.
He fell because he misread the sentiment.
He simply did not manage the “stake” holders well enough.

We want your feedback!

Managing Your Team's Stakeholders: The Real Survival Skill

Leading your team well isn’t enough.
You must also manage the forces surrounding it.
The stakeholders who can either accelerate your team's success or quietly bring it down.

The Stakeholder Matrix is a simple tool that helps you anticipate, prioritize, and engage the right people at the right time.

Here’s 5 steps to use this and avoid the same fate as Dracula when it comes to your own “stake” holders.

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1. Identify All Stakeholders

"Awareness is the greatest agent for change." — Eckhart Tolle

Start by listing everyone who has an influence over, or an interest in, your team’s success. This could be executives, customers, peers, even informal influencers.

Ignoring someone seemingly minor today could lead to serious problems tomorrow.

2. Analyze Power and Interest

"We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are." — Anaïs Nin

Ask two simple questions about each stakeholder:

• Power: How much influence do they hold over your team?

• Interest: How invested are they in your team’s outcomes?

Understanding this helps you avoid the blind spots that cost Dracula everything.

3. Map Them on the Matrix

Use the simple 2x2 grid above.

Those with high power and high interest are your "Van Helsings."

They require active, close engagement.

Others may simply need occasional updates or careful observation.

4. Develop Tailored Engagement Strategies

Not all stakeholders need the same approach.

Customize your communication based on their placement in the matrix.

Meet people where they are, not where you wish they were.

5. Monitor and Reassess

Stakeholder positions change.

Someone uninterested today could become critical tomorrow.

Monitor shifts early and adjust before the next "torches and pitchforks" moment.

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Key Takeaway

Dracula built a kingdom of fear,

Then lost it all by ignoring the people who mattered most.

Your team's success depends on you managing stakeholders better.

Use the Stakeholder Matrix to do this proactively, intelligently, and consistently.

Hope you enjoyed today’s letter!

Till next week ☕️ 

Vaugan

Today’s Chess Puzzle

Black to mate in 3 moves.

Work out the solution here.