# The four steps to data governance Governance must be focused on enabling decisions by establishing clarity of what matters (or what is broken) and who is accountable for it, rather than on building extensive documentation or broad theoretical frameworks. ## Focus on real business decisions Governance should directly help teams make faster, more confident decisions by stabilizing and standardizing the core metrics and data that actually matter, rather than trying to govern everything at once. Focus on business outcomes first. ## Assign clear ownership Each key metric or decision area needs one accountable owner (not a committee). This ensures that definitions, fixes, and conflicts are resolved quickly and clearly, rather than being stuck in shared responsibility.   ## Clarity before execution The reset begins with freezing changes/updates and surfacing reality: documenting what is broken and who is responsible before adding structure.   ## Prove value quickly Demonstrate governance value within days through tangible outcomes (trusted dashboards, removal of manual workarounds, and AI use cases that run on governed metrics) rather than producing complete policy documents or frameworks.