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Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 47 seconds
TODAY’S IDEA: Let’s banish the word JUST 
— From This Is Day One: A Practical Guide to Leadership That Matters by Drew Dudley
I have come to love the ideas from This is Day ONE by Drew Dudley. They truly resonate with me and with my personal philosophy that we all have wonderful gifts—superpowers, if you may—that make us special and that make a difference in the lives of others.
And today’s idea is no exception. It’s about banishing the word JUST from our vocabulary when it’s used by us or others to diminish what we do. The author explains it beautifully, so I’ll leave a brief excerpt here for you:
…[W]hen we evaluate ourselves and what we do [we] add qualifiers and limiting words. “Just” is one of the most prevalent and restrictive of them.
Our lives and organizations are filled with “I’m just a…” people. “I’m just a receptionist”; “I’m just a salesperson”; “I’m just middle management”; “I’m just a stay at home mom”; “I’m just part-time”; “I’m just a student.” It’s likely that each one of us has said something similar about ourselves or, at the very least, about something we were attempting to do: “I’m just trying to get to the end of this project”; “We just have to figure out a way to deal with this.”
Every time we use the word “just” to describe who we are or what we’re doing, we’re telling people that we are unimportant. Every time we say we’re “just” something, we’re giving people permission to expect less from us.
Our lives and workplaces are filled with extraordinary people who regularly diminish themselves in this way and in the process, may convince themselves that it’s true. As such, I believe that one of the simplest but most powerful things we can do to enhance our leadership is to refuse to allow people who we know are people of value to diminish themselves in front of us.
[…] Our lives and workplaces are filled with too many people who think like that. Who have convinced themselves that they have no right to think of themselves as leaders because of what job they’ve ended up doing, or where in the corporate hierarchy they appear to have peaked.
[…] A commitment to banishing the word “just” from our vocabulary and our workplaces can have a profound impact.
Beautiful and true, isn’t it? Let’s ban the word just from our vocabulary when it’s used against elevating or enlightening purposes. We’ll all be better for it!
ACTION
TODAY: It’s so common to use the word “just” in our language—or to hear it from others—that we may have a hard time noticing. Be intentional about becoming aware to catch yourself or others using it.
FUTURE: Be on the lookout for the time(s) when you find yourself using “just” or when you hear others use it. Let others know how important their role or their work is, and how much you appreciate what they do! You’ll make their day. If it’s you who uses the word “just,” be gentle and remind yourself that what you do is important. Bring to mind a couple of examples when people have told you that your work matters. You’ll feel better and it will be easier to start banishing “just” from your vocabulary.
Know someone who would like to banish the word just from their vocabulary? Please share this post with them via email, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, thank you!