Why Conviction Alone Isn’t Enough for Leaders

For years, I've mentored and advised business leaders about the power twins of confidence and humility. They’re often viewed as opposites, even if it’s rarely said aloud. But in grace-empowered leadership, they work together.

When Conviction Crumbles Under Pressure

A few weeks ago, I watched a conversation between a well-known leader and a bold, curious interviewer. The topic was one the leader clearly felt strongly about, but when challenged, things quickly went sideways. His tone shifted, and he became defensive, rigid, and visibly uncomfortable.

What became painfully clear was this: His convictions hadn’t been formed through any authentic reflection or understanding. They were inherited from others, and what resulted can best be described as a public unraveling...with no fruitfulness to speak of.

It was interesting to observe how the leader's posture became his liability. Had he carried his conviction with grace, the conversation might have been constructive and ended in mutual respect, even if his convictions weren't fully formed.

How Conviction Shows Up in Your Leadership

Your posture shapes how your conviction is perceived and whether it's trusted. Here’s how it plays out:

• Rooted Conviction (High confidence, High humility): Anchored and open. Strong beliefs held with a teachable spirit.

• Dogmatism (High confidence, Low humility): Rigid and closed. A need to be right replaces the call to be wise.

• Forming Conviction (Low confidence, High humility): Teachable and sincere, still growing in clarity.

• Guarded Insecurity (Low confidence, Low humility): Defensive and hesitant. Stuck in self-protection, without the grounding to lead forward.

You can be deeply rooted in what you believe and still lead with gentleness and curiosity. In fact, I believe that’s where your credibility often grows the most. Yet we have to face the tension with practicality by answering the question: How do I hold and express convictions without becoming dogmatic?

Five Ways to Stay Grounded Without Closing Off

You already know the value of standing firm. But in leadership, it’s not just what you believe, it’s how you carry it that determines your impact. Here are five ways leaders can stay grounded in conviction without becoming closed off.

1. Lead with clarity and openness

Strong leaders know where they stand. Wise leaders stay open to what they haven’t seen yet. Your posture is "Here's what I believe, and I'm still listening."

2. Don’t simply repeat; own what’s yours

If your belief hasn’t been tested in the real world, it won’t hold up under real pressure. Take time to examine why you believe what you believe and why it still matters today.

3. Lead with confidence that is about posture more than volume

Whether you speak with calm authority or animated energy, what matters most is how you show up. Confidence doesn’t force or manipulate agreement; it stays grounded and secure.

4. Let your fruit speak for you

The results you create (e.g., the culture, the decisions, the tone) are the loudest parts of your message. People trust conviction more when they can see the fruit of it, so let your leadership say what words can’t always capture.

5. Create space for alignment and unity vs. uniformity

Everyone doesn’t need to say things your way or see things precisely the same way. But if your conviction is clear, consistent, and grace-filled, people can walk with you, even if they’re still processing.

Conviction Formed in Grace Builds What Lasts

Conviction without humility leads to breakdowns in trust, in relationships, and eventually, in credibility. But conviction formed in grace? That builds trust and creates cultures where people and results can flourish.

In a time where extremes tend to get the spotlight, grace is still the more powerful force. It lets us stay rooted without becoming rigid and makes room for confidence and persuasion without arrogance.

And when challenges come (because they always do), that kind of conviction is what holds.

I'm Shae Bynes (aka Chief Fire Igniter). As an executive advisor, I bring over a decade of experience helping entrepreneurs and leaders adopt a grace-empowered approach to business. For those ready to bring transformation to full scale at the organizational level, I collaborate with the powerhouse team at Excellent Cultures. Together, we help you expose and eliminate the culture monsters—those hidden issues that quietly sabotage performance—so you can create the results you truly desire (often with triple and quadruple-digit ROI).

👉🏾 Want to assess the sustainability of your current leadership? DM me for free access to RECALIBRATE: A Sustainable Rhythms Leadership Diagnostic.