Your team is resistant to data governance changes. How can you ease their fears and gain their support?

The only way to ease fears and gain support is to be able to explain what's in it for them. Explain the problems that it will solve and the value that will be delivered. Remember that this will be different for different people - you need to listen, prepare and adapt. You can't have one Data Governance speel, use it for everyone and expect it to work! You must not be doing Data Governance for best practice reasons.

One thing I have found helpful is small wins , solving issues will make stakeholders more open to the solutions DG can provide, celebrate the small wins and give updates to unwilling stakeholders, they are more likely to be be open to change when they can see tangible results.

To ease these fears, start by acknowledging their concerns openly. Clearly communicate the benefits of the changes, such as improved data quality, compliance, and decision-making. Emphasize that data governance is not about adding bureaucracy but about empowering them with better, more reliable data. Provide training and resources to help them adapt, and involve them in the process to give them a sense of ownership. By addressing concerns directly and showing how these changes can make their work easier and more effective, you can help reduce resistance and build support for the new governance measures.

Involving them in the process is an absolute game changer. Enabling them to understand and participate in these data governance changes including making them aware of the positive returns it would bring on them as a person and as a part of an organisation would win them over