How to Remove "Just" From Your Vocabulary for a Stronger Message

We need to remove the word "just" from our vocabulary. It doesn't serve a purpose. It doesn't add anything helpful. In fact, it can be destructive. Let's address it.

"Can you just do this..."

Looking through the Leadership Lens

What happens when you tell a team member, "Can you just do this..."

• Asking someone to "just" do something is disrespectful to the process and all that goes into it. Almost nothing at work can "just" be done. Sure, some things can be simple or can be done quickly, but when you ask someone to "just" do something, you're neglecting to show respect for the process, systems, and all of the work and preparation that went into someone being able to do something easily. If someone can do something easily, they likely have some combination of skill, wisdom, persistence, and experience, which cannot and should not be boiled down to "just" anything.

• This diminishes the other person to a task. Asking someone to "just" do something is directive from you to them and conveys that you aren't thinking about them as a whole person but instead are only caring about a single task being completed. It's diminutive.

• This also minimizes the opportunity for creativity and innovation (and intentionality). Directing blind task completion doesn't leave much room for interpretation or flexibility, and saying "just do this" conveys low importance or investment. This language closes off the recipient from the opportunity to add something unique or creative.

What to do instead

• Be explicit in your acknowledgment of all a project entails. Tell the other person your expectations and confirm you are on the same page. Provide context into your request (as applicable). If you have time, elevate the conversation to strategy, explain the need, then ask the other person when they could have it completed by or what they think the task will require in order to hit the deadline. And if you don't have time, say that explicitly, so the other person knows why this request seems more directive than usual (and maybe plan a debrief afterward). Consider the other person's perspective: Ensure they have the resources they need and respect their process.

• Even if you have to be directive, even if the project is urgent, even if the task IS a seemingly small and easy one, be respectful and clear in your communication. Work spans beyond the task at hand. Think about the person, the relationship, and the long-term implications, and strike a good balance between action and empathy.

• Try combining fact with curiosity. State the need, then ask your team members how they can achieve that goal or what support they need from you in doing so.

For example...

Instead of:

>> "Can you just publish that blog post?"

Try:

>> "We need to publish that blog post. What would it take for that to be completed today?"

>> "Can you please publish that blog post? I'm confident you can do it on your own, but let me know if you need any support, especially since we only have until 2 PM to do it."

>> "That blog post is due ASAP. I know that's not ideal, and I don't intend for this to become a trend, but it's what we have to deal with today, so I'm here to support in whatever way I can. When can you have it published by?"

>> "We need to publish that blog post today. I know such a tight turnaround is not what we prefer, and I'll make sure the other teams know not to expect same-day turnarounds on a regular basis. However, this is an urgent need for a client, and I reviewed our open projects in the content calendar, and I believe we can get this done today. Let's reprioritize so this project comes first; I'll adjust the rest of your due dates to give you more time for those. As you're working on this this morning, let me know right away if you need anything; this is my top priority, too, so I'll be available to make sure we get this done together ASAP."

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"I just feel..."

On a Personal Level

What happens when you say "I just feel..." or "I was just thinking..."

• You're diminishing your own self-worth. You're approaching the other person from a place of submission and needlessly placing them on a pedestal. You're insinuating that your idea is not worth the other person's time or that your feelings are not valid. None of this is true, but language is power, and speaking like this will make it so.

• The word "just" is passive. Communication that uses the word "just" automatically gets weakened, providing the other person with an "out" to disagree or dismiss you.

• "Just" is a reductive word. Using it weakens your argument, because it neglects all of the wisdom and expertise your opinion holds. The word "just" doesn't convey strength or confidence or knowledge; instead, it implies timidity, uncertainty, and deference. You don't need to qualify your opinion, but you do need to clarify your idea. Make the rest of your words strong enough to stand on their own, and you won't need to buffer it with the word "just."

What to do instead

• Speak confidently in active voice. Deliver statements. Give reasoning when applicable, to give a glimpse into your thought process or to provide evidence, but only if it will enhance your argument or increase the other person's confidence in your point. If you're unsure about the relationship or situation, try not to overshare, as oversharing can come across as rambling which people often interpret as uncertainty or weakness. Instead, speak your truth then give it space. The silence may be uncomfortable--you may want to fill the void with more words--but over time you'll learn when it's appropriate to provide that reasoning and when to simply say what you feel and be done with it. It's not even necessarily about putting the onus on the other person to respond; it's about shifting your goal from winning an argument or taking action to simply saying how you feel. When your goal is to say how you feel, you can confidently say "I feel x" or "I think y" and stop there.

• To take it a step further, remove "I think" or "I feel," and explore how that message comes across and might be received, especially if it's written communication that you can edit before sending. You don't want to be rude, but you do want to be direct and clear.

  
  

For example...

The progression might look something like this:

• Step 1: "I just think we should document our strategy."

• Step 2: "I think we should document our strategy."

• Step 3:" We should document our strategy."

Which of these three is strongest? Answer: Step 3.

That's what we're striving for: strong, refined, clear communication that is still respectful and empathic while always being fueled by wisdom and experience and fact.

Cut the fluff, and let the facts speak for themselves.

Language is power. Wield it wisely.

Questions for reflection:

• How often do I use the word "just" in my communication? (Now that you read this blog post, you'll start to see it popping up! Ah, the power of self-awareness.) Review your communication more closely (especially written communication) and start to recognize how passive or active your voice is.

• How can I shift my goal to be more about me getting my point across and not about my point being received a certain way or a certain action happening as a result, since I cannot control others' reactions but I can control my own language?

• What is my language currently conveying? How can I cut the fluff and refine my message to be stronger and clearer?

• How else can I make my language work for me? What other words can I cut out that will convey more confidence and clarity?