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