The most interesting insights I get about compliance are often things 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘀 never see

Because they happen 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 I ever speak, run a workshop, or deliver training.

They happen during onboarding.

Not employee onboarding. 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘳 onboarding.

And if you’re a freelancer, self-employed, or run a microbusiness, you’ve definitely been through the same wringer.

The system wants me to behave like a large vendor:

✅ Upload your employer liability insurance. (I don’t have employees) 

✅ Provide your Diversity & Inclusion policy. (It’s just me) 

✅ Confirm your data storage protocols. (I’m delivering a keynote) 

✅ Share your business continuity plan. (See above)

I've even had Procurement try to negotiate down a fee I'd agreed with the Head of Ethics. 🤔

None of this is malicious. It’s a process. I get it.

But the insight doesn’t come from 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 they ask. 

It comes from what happens when I can’t answer, or not in the way the form expects.

That’s when I learn what the culture is really like; whether people feel empowered to apply judgment, or are stuck in a system they know makes no sense.

And those are the insights I 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴. Not to point fingers; they’re things Compliance might otherwise never find out that say a lot about culture.

Because here’s the irony: 

You brought me in 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘺 because I see things you don’t.

If your systems can’t cope with someone who doesn’t fit the mould, that’s not just awkward, it’s a missed opportunity.

You don’t need more corporate thinking; you've got that in-house.

You need people who 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 score 100% on your one-size-fits-all process.