A cultural guide to GRC

This guide was written by Rich Eddolls, Chief Product Officer and Co-Founder at CoreStream GRC

Here is a preview of the guide:

Introduction: shaping a GRC culture that lasts

“Is GRC a culture, a practice or a program?”

Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) can be many things depending on your organization’s maturity. Some see it as a software category. Others argue over terminology. But the most successful organizations treat GRC as a cultural foundation for how decisions are made and risks are managed.

Change programs help implement or revise GRC practice. When done effectively, they move GRC from a tick-box exercise to a habit, deeply embedded in how teams work. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, but practical steps toward a GRC-aware culture can make all the difference.

Educate: build awareness, build ownership

“Making an organization risk-conscious is imperative.”

If employees see GRC as a burden, adoption will always be shallow. But when they understand the value, they’re more likely to own the process, not just follow it. GRC becomes accessible when people see it for what it is: formalized decision-making, informed by better data.

Education is essential. Teams should know how GRC affects performance, what risks they influence, and why poor practices matter. With the right awareness, GRC stops being theoretical and starts delivering real value.

Lead and reward: make GRC everyone’s business

“The desired GRC culture is frequently one that is inclusive and collaborative.”

Compliance that’s enforced top-down without involvement risks alienating the very people it needs. GRC works best when leaders set the tone and everyone shares ownership.

Incentivizing GRC through performance metrics, recognition, and leadership alignment embeds it into daily behavior. When GRC goals are linked to company success, they become more than policy; they become part of how success is defined.

Help, don’t hinder: GRC that supports, not slows

“GRC culture should encourage proactive prevention.”

Controls that feel like roadblocks erode engagement and slow the business. GRC should be proportionate, relevant, and focused on minimizing both the likelihood and impact of risk before issues arise.

Done right, GRC doesn’t just protect, it empowers. It improves contract outcomes, strengthens ethical reputations, and enhances decision-making. It’s not just about avoiding failure; it’s about building advantage.

Standardize: simplify GRC across the organization

“Standardization will almost always drive significant benefits.”

When GRC processes evolve in silos, you end up with duplicated effort, inconsistent terminology, and audit fatigue. Standardization improves efficiency, clarity, and confidence at all levels.

Whether or not centralization is the goal, a consistent GRC framework with common language and reporting enables better decision-making. It also makes GRC more accessible from the shop floor to the boardroom.

Get the best from technology: use tools to enable, not replace

“Technology should be regarded as an enabler that improves the efficiency of people and processes; not as a substitute for them.”

GRC platforms should enhance your team’s work, not automate them out of it. Used well, technology consolidates information, streamlines repetitive tasks, and makes GRC more intuitive.

But sophistication can create diminishing returns. Often, 80% of the benefit comes from 20% of the effort. Focus on usability, clarity, and efficiency, and avoid creating complexity in the name of automation.

Keep it simple: simplicity drives adoption

“Keeping things simple is overarching and something to be conscious of at all times.”

Complicated GRC frameworks alienate users and stall adoption. Simplicity of language, process, and controls makes GRC scalable and sustainable. Even complex regulation can be translated into logical, accessible controls.

The most effective GRC cultures are built on clarity. By addressing complexity at the design stage, organizations make it easier for people to engage and own the process.

Want to continue reading?

Download the full guide to explore how you can build a GRC-aware culture that drives engagement, accountability, and long-term value.