You’re not ‘just’ anything.

Recently, I had the privilege of presenting at a national conference for Executive Assistants in Independent Schools, held at the beautiful Hotel Windsor in Melbourne, Australia. Amidst the laughter, reflection, and exchange of insights, there was one moment that drew a knowing ripple of reaction from the room when I invited them, rather dramatically, to surgically remove the word ‘just’ from their vocabulary.

Why did that strike such a chord?

Because so many brilliant, capable professionals across a wide range of roles use this tiny word to downplay themselves and their impact.

It sneaks into emails, conversations, and self-introductions:
“I’m just support staff.”
“I’m just a teacher.”
“I’m just helping out.”
“I just wanted to ask a question.”

The word ‘just’ is often used to soften statements, reduce perceived imposition, or show humility. But in professional settings, it frequently has the opposite effect. It undermines confidence. It downplays contributions and, most significantly, it teaches others to undervalue the work you do - because you’re already doing it to yourself.

Over time, that begins to shape how others see you and how you see yourself. But when you drop it, your message becomes clearer. Not louder, just more grounded, honest and capable:

“I coordinated the event logistics for 200 people.”
“I support the Principal/CEO across strategic and operational priorities.”
“I’d like to ask a question.”
“I contributed to the outcome.”

Importantly, the removal of ‘just’ doesn’t make you arrogant, it makes you clear. And clarity builds credibility. In fact, the more you can confidently name your contributions, the more others will recognise your strategic value.

If any of this sounds familiar, try paying attention to when ‘just’ shows up this week. Take it out, rephrase the sentence, and notice the shift. You might not change what you do, only how you describe it. But that small shift can change how you are heard and how you feel about yourself and your work.

You are not ‘just’ anything.

You bring value, insight and steadiness to the work that matters. And if removing this particular four-letter word from your language is something you want to explore more deeply, it might be the right time for a conversation.