The First Five Steps to Building a Governance Mindset

Whether you’re working in IT, operations, security, or support, governance is not just about compliance. It is about consistency, accountability, and trust. Adopting a governance mindset means building structure where there isn’t any and reducing risk before it turns into a problem.

If your organization is growing or entering regulated environments, these five steps can help you create a foundation for strong governance, risk management, and compliance (GRC), even if you're starting from scratch.


1. Get Clear on What You’re Protecting

Before jumping into frameworks or policies, start by identifying:

  • What data, systems, or services are critical

  • What bad outcomes you are trying to avoid

  • Who would be affected if something went wrong

This step frames governance as risk reduction, not just red tape.


2. Map Out What Exists (and What Doesn’t)

You can't govern what you don't understand. Start with a simple inventory:

  • Key processes such as change management, vendor onboarding, and incident handling

  • Existing policies and documentation

  • Tools in use like Jira, SharePoint, or Confluence

  • Stakeholders involved

Use a spreadsheet or a basic tracker. This becomes your living source of truth.


3. Define Ownership and Accountability

Governance fails without clear ownership. For each area you document, ask:

  • Who is the decision-maker

  • Who approves changes

  • Who owns the documentation

Establishing roles early creates built-in accountability and prevents confusion when things go wrong.


4. Document What Matters, Even If It’s Not Perfect

Don't wait until you have a formal template. Start with:

  • Simple SOPs that outline how things are done

  • Checklists for repeatable processes

  • Version-controlled policies with change logs

Documentation is not just for auditors. It supports onboarding, cross-training, and continuity when team members move on.


5. Start Small and Build Buy-In

Governance does not happen overnight. Introduce structure gradually:

  • Pilot process reviews with one team before scaling

  • Share small wins like reduced errors or faster decision-making

  • Make documentation part of team culture, not an afterthought

When governance is seen as a support tool rather than a barrier, adoption becomes easier.


Building a governance mindset is not about being perfect. It is about being intentional.
When you start asking questions like:

  • What is the risk

  • Where is this documented

  • Who is accountable

You are already moving in the right direction.

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Written by

Neviar Rawlinson, MBA
Neviar Rawlinson, MBA

IT GRC & Process Improvement Analyst