This is a post to recommend – strongly – that you jettison the word “just” from your written and spoken communications, whenever possible. Your messages and ideas will thank you for it!

Overuse of the adverb “just’ has been a pet peeve of mine for years. And while there are more important causes I could throw my weight behind, this one matters because it will help you communicate more powerfully than you may realize. Let me explain…

First, there are absolutely places where using “just” makes good sense. Specifically, use “just” all you want when intending to convey exactly (“just right”), barely (“just on time”), directly (“just west of here”), simply (“she’s just terrific”) or possibly/perhaps (“this might just be the thing”).

What I’m obsessed with is the overuse of “just” when you’re QUALIFYING a message, statement or idea. This happens a lot when we are uncomfortable or uncertain about what we are saying.

I so often see messages that start like this:

·     “I just wanted to say that …”
·     “I’m just hoping for ….”
·     “If you could spare just a few minutes…”

In each of these phrases, the use of the word diminishes the impact of the request or idea. It sends a message that you are not as invested in the idea or thing you are saying. To see what I’m getting at, look at the three examples above and simply eliminate the word “just.” Immediately the message becomes stronger, only eliminating the tentative nature of the phrase with “just” in it.

So that’s my message. See if you can elevate your awareness of when you insert “just” into your communication, and get into the practice of deleting it from written communications and dropping it when speaking. It’s a powerful little move that delivers big.