French people need to understand why their effort matters before they will fully commit. Motivation disconnected from purpose — effort demanded without explanation, tasks that lack discernible significance — fails to engage them. They want to know how their work connects to something meaningful, whether that is intellectual significance, organizational value, or collective benefit.
This is not resistance; it is how French motivation works. Provide the why before asking for the what. Explain how the work matters, how it fits into a larger picture, what it accomplishes.
When French people understand and believe in the purpose of their effort, their capacity for sustained, intense work is exceptional. Without that understanding, you will get compliance at best — never full engagement.
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