“Do your best.” Have you said this? Or what about “Just do your best.” Is there a difference between those two phrases?
It depends on how they are said. I’ve often used the latter when employees say that they aren’t capable of doing the task at hand. It’s usually said with a sigh, “Just do your best,” as if I’m already acknowledging that their performances will be substandard.
The first phrase, though, “do your best,” can, if said in the proper chipper manner, indicate that this person should honestly do his or her best on this project. No stone left unturned, no detail ignored. There are very few times that this level of perfection is what you want. Most of the work your employees need to do is average work.
