When People Fail You At WorkSample

Compliance vs. Conviction

One of the biggest reasons teams fail is that team members act based on compliance rather than on conviction. When we merely comply with a directive, we do what is asked by the manager, but only as long as the manager drives obedience. In this scenario, the manager has the continual burden to motivate, and even manipulate, people to “get on board.” 

After Nehemiah established the city walls and governing roles in Jerusalem, he had to return to serving King Artaxerxes. When he returned to Jerusalem about two years later, he found that the leaders he put in place to govern were only motivated by compliance. They did all the right things as long as Nehemiah was around to push them. But once he left, they did what they thought was best. He was facing compliant obedience.

Conviction-based effort, on the other hand, drives each individual to make the personal choice to act a certain way because they believe it is right both for them and the organization. They have enough information and time to understand how the act is relevant, and trust the fruitfulness of the outcome. When Nehemiah saw what the compliant behavior was doing to his team and organization, he became rightfully angry and asked God to remember and honor his work. His behavior throughout this story was driven by his own inner conviction.

To inspire conviction-based behavior in our team and companies, we need to be leaders who re-establish a shared vision, right assumptions and beliefs about how the company and team work. If our team assumes that management is untrustworthy or that the plan won’t work, that will shape their actions negatively. If everyone has a different picture in their hearts of what decision should be made and what outcome is best, there is no “common caring” that binds the team together.

How is God calling you to inspire convictional work in your company?

Prayer

Father, I confess that sometimes my behavior is marked by compliance more than conviction. I sometimes forget that I ultimately work for you. Help me to work with conviction and to care about my team, organization, customers, and my stakeholders. Let the words of my mouth and my actions be pleasing to you. Lastly, give me opportunities to inspire conviction and vision in others today. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Further Exploration

Learn more about God’s calling in your work from Nehemiah .