There’s no denying it. The demand for Data Governance is growing fast. Whether it’s because of changing regulations, technology, or economic pressures, more organisations are finally realising they need to get serious about their data. But there’s a problem…

Budgets are tight. People want Data Governance, but they don’t always have the time, team, or money to implement it properly. So how do you move forward when the pressure is high but the resources are low? You take a minimal approach.

What is Minimal Data Governance?

So, first of all, let’s clear something up. “Minimal” doesn’t mean careless or incomplete. It’s not about doing the bare minimum to keep the regulator off your back or to tick a box in a report. Minimal Data Governance means being focused and deliberate about what you're doing and why you're doing it, so that even a small initiative delivers visible value.

You start with a narrow scope. You choose just one area or one goal to tackle. Maybe it’s improving the quality of customer data, or making financial reports more reliable, or helping the business meet compliance rules. Whatever it is, it should matter to your organisation right now. That one focused goal becomes your anchor. It helps you design a framework that works, even on a budget.

Does “Minimal” mean less time and effort?

Unfortunately not! Whether your scope is large or small, setting up Data Governance still takes time and attention. If you try to rush it or cut corners, you won’t get the results and that can hurt your reputation and your chances of getting support for future work.

But here’s the good news: if you do minimal Data Governance well, it becomes your foundation. Something you can build on over time and that proves the value of Data Governance to your stakeholders. You don’t need to do everything at once. You just need to do the first thing right.

You don’t have to do it alone

If you're wondering how to get started with a limited budget or team, remember: you don’t have to go it alone. That’s why I offer flexible coaching options that help you do Data Governance in a practical, structured way without wasting time or money.

The first option is Coaching, which gives you one call per month for six months. Each session lasts one hour and is recorded so you can refer back to it. You're welcome to bring along team members, and you can also use a session for stakeholder discussions, reviewing documents, or getting help implementing your framework. You’ll also receive my detailed Data Governance Checklist - a practical tool to help you keep track of what you’ve covered and what still needs attention.

The second, most popular, option is Coaching Plus. This gives you ten one-hour sessions to use at any time over a six-month period, offering greater flexibility if your needs vary from month to month. Like the standard coaching option, the sessions are recorded and team members can join in. You can use the sessions however you like, from strategic planning to stakeholder engagement. In addition to the Data Governance Checklist, this option includes a licence for my online Data Governance training course. There is also the option to add on access to my Data Governance-specific AI assistant, trained on my own 20+ years of experience and knowledge.

Both packages are designed to help you focus your efforts and adapt as your initiative evolves without overcommitting your time or your budget. Take Volkswagen Financial Services UK, for example. They chose the Coaching Plus package to guide their Data Governance work over six months. Their lead explained how valuable it was to have someone to check in with, saying it gave them confidence they were doing the right thing—not just for the business, but for the people and customers too. With a modest amount of support, they were able to avoid common pitfalls, sense-check their approach, and move forward with clarity. That’s exactly what minimal, focused support should offer.

Start small, think long-term

The trick to Data Governance on a shoestring is focus. Choose one benefit that matters, design a simple, strong approach to deliver it, and make sure what you build today can be reused and scaled tomorrow.

And, you don’t need a big budget to get started. You just need a clear goal, a smart plan - and maybe a little help from someone who’s done it before!

If you’d like any further help or information about coaching, take a look at my website coaching page.
Or, check out this case study on coaching to see how it’s benefited my clients.

If you would like further support with anything Data Governance related in your organisation, you can book a call with me using the button below.

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