Our work with a range of organisations across different sectors has provided us with a unique insight into what good looks like when it comes to creating safer cultures.
They require:
- Strong leadership
- Quality training
- Effective support systems
- Risk management
- Clear reporting and investigation processes
- Robust policies and governance
- Monitoring and evaluation
The real challenge lies in consistently embedding these elements into the fabric of your organisation’s culture.
The Missing Link: Understanding Change
Time and again, we see well-intentioned organisations roll out training programmes or revise policies thinking that will “fix” the culture. But change is rarely linear or one-dimensional. Even when we have clear goals and know what actions should follow, the human and systemic barriers remain.
This is where we turned to the McKinsey Influence Model – a framework that moves beyond isolated action and focuses on the four key conditions that influence deep, sustainable change:
- Role Modelling
Leaders need to embody the change. People watch what you do more than what you say. - Understanding and Commitment
Everyone, from senior leadership to frontline staff and students, needs to understand why change is needed and believe in it. - Reinforcing Mechanisms
Organisational processes, systems, and structures must support the change, not contradict it. - Capability Building
People need the skills, tools, and confidence to behave differently.
From Training to Transformation: A Case in Practice
One recent partnership with a university is a clear example. What began as a brief to deliver specific training quickly became a broader conversation. It became evident that:
- The training needed to include everyone, not just a few key staff.
- The organisational structures and processes had to align with the behaviours the training encouraged.
- The case for change had to be clear so students and staff alike could understand why it mattered.
Simply delivering a “training solution” would have missed the point. The real value came from taking a whole-system view – aligning leadership, systems, and skill-building to embed a safer culture from the inside out.
Our Safer Cultures Change Roadmap
In response, we’ve developed a phased change management framework – a roadmap that helps organisations move from intention to real-world change. We work collaboratively to:
- Assess where you are now
- Identify what’s already working
- Pinpoint the gaps that could undermine your good intentions
- Map a realistic and sustainable journey to embed a truly safer culture
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. It’s a practical, grounded approach that helps organisations navigate complexity and avoid common pitfalls.
Why Safer Cultures Matter: The Business Case
Safer Cultures aren’t just morally right, they’re strategically smart. The evidence is clear:
- Staff retention improves when people feel psychologically safe. Gallup reports that employees who feel safe and respected are 27% more likely to stay.
- Attracting talent becomes easier, especially for younger generations who expect inclusion, safety, and wellbeing as standard.
- Risk is reduced. Safer cultures mean issues are spotted and addressed early, before they escalate into crises.
- Organisational performance is linked to culture. Research shows that companies with strong ethical cultures outperform peers in key performance metrics.
Final Thought: Culture Is Built Every Day
You can’t outsource culture. You can’t tick-box your way to safety. And you certainly can’t expect change by focusing on parts of the system in isolation.
The organisations who succeed are those who understand that building a safer culture is a change process, not a checklist.
So yes, knowing what “good” looks like matters. But getting there takes more than vision. It takes real, aligned action across people, systems, and mindset.
If you’re ready to move beyond training and policies toward true transformation, we’re here to help walk that journey with you.
– Kerrie Best, Director of Sexual Violence Services at LimeCulture