For finite-dimensional rational representations of complex or , average a Hermitian inner product over the compact group or using normalized Haar measure. Orthogonal complements become invariant under the compact group and its complexified Lie algebra. The latter generates the complex group, giving invariant complements and hence complete reducibility. This conclusion does not hold for arbitrary affine algebraic groups, such as the additive group.
For a finite-dimensional continuous complex representation of a compact group, normalize Haar measure to mass one and average any positive-definite Hermitian inner product:
The resulting inner product is positive-definite and invariant. If is an invariant subspace, then is invariant as well, since . Thus . Restriction to a compact real form, followed by integration of a Lie-algebra representation, proves the Weyl complete reducibility theorem.