Why Creating a Risk Culture is So Hard—and Why Change Champions Deserve More Recognition
Sergey Hayrapetyan
Enterprise Risk & Compliance | Governance | Fraud Prevention | Regulatory Strategy
Building a risk culture in an organization is often presented as a strategic initiative that is neatly packaged with clear goals and deliverables. But in reality, it’s one of the most difficult transformations an organization can undergo. Risk management isn't just about policies and procedures—it’s about changing mindsets. The hardest part? It’s not just the systems that need to evolve, but the very culture of the organization.
Behind the scenes, there’s a group of unsung heroes—the change champions—who are leading the charge. These leaders shoulder the weight of driving a risk-aware culture, often without the recognition they deserve. They are the ones tirelessly advocating for the need to rethink how the organization approaches risk, selling the concept to teams who may be resistant, and convincing decision-makers who might not fully grasp the long-term benefits.
While their role is crucial, they face numerous challenges along the way. Change champions often encounter significant resistance and, unfortunately, a lack of visibility and recognition for their efforts.
The Heavy Burden of Change Champions
Change champions are not just executors of new initiatives—they are advocates, influencers, and sometimes, the lone voices pushing for a risk-aware environment. Despite their dedication, they often encounter:
?? Obstacles from leadership: Leadership may be slow to embrace or invest in the cultural shift required for building a risk culture. Without leadership buy-in, change champions are left to fight an uphill battle, often without the resources or support they need to succeed.
?? Reluctance from peers: Colleagues and teams might resist the change due to fear of the unknown or discomfort with altering established practices. This reluctance can create friction, leaving change champions in the challenging position of not only implementing new practices but also convincing peers to get on board.
?? Lack of visibility and recognition: Despite their vital role, the efforts of change champions often go unrecognized. Their work is behind the scenes, ensuring the long-term health of the organization, yet their contributions are seldom celebrated.
Why Risk Culture Matters—and Why It's Worth the Struggle
At its core, creating a risk culture isn’t just about mitigating potential threats—it’s about empowering organizations to make better decisions, fostering innovation, and building resilience. A company with a strong risk culture isn’t afraid to take calculated risks because they’ve built an environment where risks are discussed, assessed, and managed, rather than ignored or downplayed.
A risk-aware culture encourages innovation by allowing teams to experiment, knowing that they have a safety net in place. It also helps organizations anticipate and respond to challenges more effectively, making them more adaptable in today’s volatile business environment.
However, without champions pushing for this cultural shift, organizations can remain vulnerable to blind spots, stagnation, and missed opportunities. Change champions aren’t just shifting culture for the sake of it—they’re safeguarding the company’s future.
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The Price of Ignoring Change Champions
Unfortunately, too often, change champions are left without the support and recognition they need. The emotional and professional toll can be significant. Without proper acknowledgment, these leaders can become discouraged, and their efforts to drive meaningful change can slow or even stop altogether.
If we don’t actively support and recognize these trailblazers, we risk not only losing the momentum for change but also losing the very people who are willing to lead it.
Time to Reflect: How Are You Supporting Change Champions?
Creating a risk culture is hard. It takes time, persistence, and most importantly, it takes people who are willing to champion the cause, even when it’s uncomfortable. But if organizations don’t recognize and support these champions, they’ll struggle to build the culture they need to stay competitive in a fast-moving world.
So, the real question is: How are you supporting those who are carrying the load of creating a risk culture in your organization?
These change champions deserve more than a pat on the back—they need real support, resources, and recognition for the critical role they play in shaping a sustainable and resilient future.
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Transformational Nonconformist-It is time to Think Differently about Risk. "It didn’t take guts to follow the crowd, that courage and intelligence lay in being willing to be different" Jackie Robinson
5 个月Great work, check out some articles here: https://riskculturebuilders.com/articles/
Risk, Compliance & Internal Audit Professional
5 个月Jeanne Ella ANDRIANAMBININA thanks for supportive role as we continue to champion risk awareness and innovative risk management approach. Thanks Sergey Hayrapetyan this is very insightful.
Executive leader in nonprofit strategy and operational management
5 个月Excellent insights!