The Culture of Convenience: The Invisible Barrier to Safety Success
“It’s easier this way.”
“We’ve always done it like this.”
“It’s just a small thing—we’ll fix it later.”
These aren’t policy statements—but they might be the most powerful messages shaping your organization’s safety culture.
At Acclivix, we’ve observed that some of the greatest threats to effective Safety Management Systems (SMS) aren’t gaps in knowledge or regulation—they can be slow, almost imperceptible shifts toward convenience over compliance.
We call it The Culture of Convenience, and it can erode your SMS from the inside out.
What Is the Culture of Convenience?
The Culture of Convenience occurs when shortcuts, workarounds, and unwritten norms begin to replace established procedures—not out of malice, but in the name of efficiency.
It might show up as:
Verbal reporting instead of documented reports
Delaying NOTAMs or hazard logs until someone has time to “do it properly”
Swapping formal briefings for casual handoffs
Skipping training refreshers because “everyone already knows it”
Investigations that go no further than “it was human error”
Over time, these small concessions accumulate into a larger systemic issue. What was once a deviation becomes standard operating behaviour.
Why It Matters
Convenience is seductive because it feels like we’re being helpful, agile, or efficient. But in safety-critical environments, convenience can be costly:
It undermines accountability by removing evidence and traceability.
It erodes trust when frontline staff see that “official rules” are only followed when convenient.
It creates cultural drift, where procedures no longer match practice—but nobody questions it until after an incident.
Executive Actions: How to Push Back Against the Culture of Convenience
Here are five practical steps leaders can take today:
Name It
Start talking openly about convenience culture. When people see it, they can begin to challenge it.Model the Behaviour
As a leader, follow and reinforce proper processes—even when it’s easier not to. You set the tone.Reinforce Purpose, Not Just Procedure
Remind your team why the process exists—not just what the process is. If a checklist feels pointless - or too cumbersome - it won’t be used.Balance Efficiency with Integrity
Look for ways to streamline legitimate processes without skipping them. Eliminate waste, not safeguards.Celebrate Safety-Conscious Behaviour
Recognize when people take the longer route for the right reasons. Share stories that highlight this value in action.
Quick Tool: Convenience Culture Check-Up
Use this short checklist during your next safety meeting or executive huddle. Answer honestly and discuss openly.
Yes / No Staff routinely use informal methods (texts, chats) instead of official channels to report issues.
Yes / No Training or refresher modules are skipped or shortened because “people already know this.”
Yes / No Field reports are not always logged unless something serious occurs.
Yes / No Some safety procedures are viewed as optional, symbolic, or “just paperwork.”
Yes / No It’s common to delay or avoid submitting hazard reports until “more information is available.”
If you answered “Yes” to 2 or more, your organization may be quietly drifting into a convenience-first culture.
Let’s Get Ahead of It
The good news? Culture is changeable—especially when you have clarity, leadership, and follow-through.
At Acclivix, we help airports and aviation organizations move from policy on paper to practice in reality. Whether through audits, facilitated workshops, or safety culture refresh strategies, we’re here to help you turn awareness into action.
Let’s work together to move from convenient to conscientious.
Contact us today to book a discovery call.
Currie Russell, A.A.E.
President, Acclivix Inc.