Have you ever caught yourself silently shrinking, using the word "just" before your title, your accomplishments, or even your ideas? Maybe you've said, "I'm just a team member," or "I'm just filling in"—and in that tiny word, you let a little light of your confidence flicker out.
I've heard from leaders just like you, wrestling with the tension between wanting to stand tall in their careers and feeling pressured by culture to play small. The pull to minimize your wins, your presence, and your impact is exhausting.
That's exactly what we're exploring in this episode of Being at Work with my longtime friend, MeChelle Callen. MeChelle is not only an author and leader, she's lived the journey of shifting from "just" to joy—embracing power, presence, and authenticity at work.
We talk about why eliminating "just" from your vocabulary matters more than you realize, how subtle habits and societal pressures like "tall poppy syndrome" keep us from leading boldly. MeChelle brings real stories, practical tools, and rituals you can tailor for your life. This is an invitation to stop minimizing yourself and finally stand in your power, without apology.
Episode Highlights
(00:00) Why "just" Is Undermining Your Confidence Without You Knowing
(03:03) MeChelle Callen: Who She Is and Why Standing in Our Power Matters
(04:23) The Cost of Self-Minimizing Language
(08:21) Practical Ways to Eliminate "Just" from Your Work Vocabulary
(09:45) Tall Poppy Syndrome: How Culture Makes Us Shrink
(12:31) Leadership, Resilience, and Being Seen—Even When It's Risky
(18:15) Authenticity vs. Adaptability: How to Honor Yourself While Navigating Feedback
(21:50) Rituals for Confidence: Music, Mantras, Power Poses & More
(26:16) Micro-Moments of Power: Anchoring Yourself Before Big Moments
(29:51) Why Your Unique Voice and Story Matters More Than Ever
About Andrea Butcher
Andrea Butcher is a visionary business leader, executive coach, and keynote speaker—she empowers leaders to gain clarity through the chaos by being MORE of who they already are. Her experiences—serving as CEO, leading at an executive level, and working in and leading global teams—make her uniquely qualified to support leadership and business success. She hosts the popular leadership podcast, Being [at Work] with a global audience of over 600,000 listeners and is the author of The Power in the Pivot (Red Thread Publishing 2022) and HR Kit for Dummies (Wiley 2023).
Connect with Andrea
https://www.abundantempowerment.com/
Connect with Andrea Butcher on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaderdevelopmentcoach/
Connect with MeChelle Callen
https://www.mechellecallen.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mechellecallen/
