I have tried to stop using the word "just" in my correspondence. It doesn't fit-and it is used incorrectly in the cases where I have used it too often or have heard/seen others use it. I don't mean using it in a grammatically correct fashion. I leave that to proofreaders and editors. I am talking about something far more important.
Too often, I hear "just" from the mouths of volunteers or front line staff. Volunteers say, "Oh, I can't do that" or "I don't know the answer to that." Then they follow with, "I am just a volunteer!" In this case, "just" is demeaning and putting down our volunteers or it is they doing it to themselves. I hear the same from front line staff at events-in the back rooms of sponsorship or marketing departments, etc.- and it is wrong!
Volunteers are an important part of our organizations. They are often the vision developers or the ones who deal directly with sponsors and guests, clients, and customers. They need to quit referring to themselves as "just a volunteer" or "I am just a support worker here." A while ago, I began making sure that, when I hear this, I say, "You are an important part of this organization. You are not 'just' a volunteer. You are a volunteer and you should be proud of it. We are proud of all that you do here."
We need to take it a step further. Many of you are already aware of the above. We should also recognize this error is in our "sales" correspondence. I went back and looked at my emails from a few years back before I became conscious of this. When I reviewed emails I had sent in follow-up on proposals, requests for meetings, etc., about 90% of the time, I tended to insert that awful misnomer "just" into my sentences. If I was following up on trying to get a meeting, it might have read like this: "Good morning, John. I am just reaching out once again in follow-up to my email of last Monday about setting up a meeting when I am in Winnipeg next week." Note that I used the word "just."
When I think about it, what that word implies or says is "I am sorry to intrude. I know this is not really important and not a priority for you, but I wanted to get in front of you if you would be so kind as to grant me some of your precious time." That is wrong! I have a product and value that they can use and that will benefit them. I should be proud of the assets I own and should be saying, "Good morning, John, I am reaching out once again in follow-up to my email of last Monday to set up a meeting when I am in Winnipeg next week." Note that I did not use the word "just."
That revised approach says or implies, "I am available and have something of value to you. If you want to meet with me, I will allocate the time. If not, I will move along and talk to your competition instead." It is pretty amazing the difference one little word can make!
I encourage you to be proud of what you have and your organization. Drop "just" from your vocabulary and correspondence, both from a volunteer and a front line staff perspective, and in your sales follow-up. Also, if I follow up with you on something and say, "I just wanted..." be sure to send me a reply saying, "It sounds like you are desperate and not too sure of your product. When you feel differently, please feel free to reach out to me again. Until then, I am not interested in your lower quality product."
Thank you for reading and your feedback.
Brent Barootes, president of Partnership Group - Sponsorship Specialists, has worked directly or indirectly with many Canadian professional and amateur sports teams, nonprofit and charitable organizations as well as major corporations to develop, design, and build effective sponsorship programs.
His expertise includes sponsorship valuations and audits, inventory/benefit development, package development, and mentoring of staff and volunteers for both corporations engaging in sponsorship as well as charitable, nonprofit and for-profit events and organizations.
Contact him by email or visit www.partnershipgroup.ca.
