The Power of Yet

What if we told you that three letters could completely change the way you think about things? It’s a small word, but it packs a mighty punch – let’s talk about the power of ‘yet’

Confidence can feel like a bit of a rollercoaster – sometimes it’s soaring, and other times it’s plummeting, leaving you rattled and wondering where it all went wrong. This can be especially tough when you’re trying to learn something new that just isn’t clicking straight away. Maybe it’s wrestling with unfamiliar software, trying to make sense of a tricky spreadsheet, or attempting to write a training manual that refuses to come together. It’s frustrating because you feel like you should already know how to do it. Before long, it stops being about the task and starts feeling like a reflection of your ability. But here’s the thing – learning takes time.

Three Letters That Change Everything

That’s where three small letters can make all the difference: Y-E-T.

We often talk about learning as if it should be instant – like downloading an update and suddenly knowing how to do everything perfectly. So, when something doesn’t click straight away, we label it as a failure: I can’t use this system. I’m useless at reports. I’ll never get the hang of this. When you add yet, you give yourself permission to learn at a natural, realistic pace. I can’t use this system… yet. I don’t know how to write that manual… yet. Suddenly, what felt fixed becomes fluid. The focus shifts from what you can’t do now to what you’re still learning.

Learning Doesn’t Follow a Schedule

The power of yet reminds you that growth isn’t supposed to happen overnight. It takes repetition, mistakes, trial and error, and a bit of patience! It’s also a mindset that helps when supporting others. Learning doesn’t run on a universal timeline. What takes one person a week to grasp might take someone else a month, and that’s perfectly fine. We all absorb information differently, depending on our experience, workload, confidence and even what else is going on in our lives. When a colleague says, ‘I can’t figure this out’, try adding yet to the conversation. It reframes frustration as learning – and that changes everything.

You’re a Work in Progress

The truth is none of us are finished products. We’re all works in progress, figuring things out as we go. So, the next time you hear a staff member getting stressed and sighing over their keyboard with, “I can’t make sense of this new system,” give them a smile and gently remind them, “I think you mean you can’t do it yet.”