Building a collaborative risk culture
A strong risk culture is essential for effective decision-making and long-term resilience. In our 26.2. webinar, risk expert Charlotte Candy and our CEO, Mikaeli Langinvainio explored the importance of fostering a collaborative risk culture – why it matters, how it benefits organizations, and practical steps to make it a reality.
Why a collaborative risk culture matters
Risk culture isn’t just about processes — it’s what holds risk management together. Without it, decisions are made in silos, interdependencies are overlooked, and risks are either underestimated or ignored. A strong risk culture ensures informed, collaborative, and transparent decision-making.
Language plays a key role in building risk culture. Terms like “no surprises” can mean different things to different people — either open and transparent communication or, conversely, a culture of hiding bad news. A well-defined risk culture prevents such misinterpretations, aligning teams with a shared understanding.
The role of leadership & stakeholder engagement
Leadership sets the tone for risk culture. If leaders don’t prioritize risk awareness, neither will their teams. Successful organizations integrate risk management into their leadership training, ensuring that risk-conscious decision-making becomes second nature at all levels. One effective approach to this is incorporating risk objectives into employee appraisals. When risk awareness becomes a measurable performance criterion, teams naturally engage with risk management more seriously.
Engaging diverse stakeholders in risk management brings multiple perspectives, reducing blind spots. In industries like aviation, construction, and healthcare, cross-functional collaboration is critical. Engineers, architects, financial analysts, and frontline employees each offer unique insights into risks and opportunities. However, effective engagement requires structured facilitation. Without clear definitions and a shared understanding of risk, discussions can become fragmented.
Overcoming bias & strengthening processes
Cognitive biases, such as optimism bias and groupthink, impact risk assessment. A great risk culture acknowledges these biases and builds structured processes — such as individual brainstorming and AI-assisted analysis — to counteract them. Encouraging diverse perspectives and challenging assumptions can further enhance the quality of risk evaluations.
Tools & technology for sustaining risk culture
One of the key takeaways was that a collaborative risk culture isn’t just about starting strong — it requires ongoing commitment. Digital tools like Inclus can support this by facilitating structured engagement, tracking risk maturity, and ensuring continuous improvement.
Looking ahead
Risk management is evolving, and collaboration is at the heart of its future. Our discussion with Charlotte underscored the importance of leadership, stakeholder inclusion, and structured processes in embedding a robust risk culture.
If you want to explore risk culture further, watch the webinar recording at the link below.
Don’t miss our next webinar on psychological resilience on April 8th, featuring Juhani Mäkinen, a former Navy Special Forces operator. Register now!