Action-Based vs Judgment-Based Language
Swap conclusions for actions — 'I can't' becomes 'I haven't figured out how yet.'
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time to result
- ~days to results
- Steps
- 2
- Confidence
- 85%
Lederman distinguishes judgment-based language from action-based language. 'I can't do this' or 'I'm not good at this' are conclusions that close off possibility; 'I haven't figured out how to do this yet' is an action that creates momentum and an opening to learn. The simple move is often just adding 'yet.' She ties this to authenticity and positive self-talk: how you frame things to yourself influences how you show up and how others respond, and that response amplifies over time. She challenges listeners to spend a day noticing whether their statements are action-based or judgment-based.
Origin
Lederman developed this from coaching her two teenage sons in high school, who kept saying 'I can't do this' or 'I'm not good at this' — conclusion statements she reframes into action.
Core principles
- 01Words influence us, not just others — how you frame things to yourself matters.
- 02Conclusion-based statements ('I can't') close off possibility.
- 03Action-based statements ('I haven't figured it out yet') create momentum and openings.
- 04Adding 'yet' converts a judgment into a possibility.
How to run it
- 1
Catch the judgment
Notice conclusion-based statements in your self-talk — 'I can't do this,' 'I'm not a good public speaker' — that declare a fixed verdict.
Pro tip Spend the rest of a day auditing whether your statements are action-based or judgment-based.
- 2
Reframe to action
Rephrase the verdict as an action about what you haven't done yet — 'I haven't figured out how to do this yet' — to create momentum and possibility.
Pro tip The single word 'yet' converts a judgment into an open possibility.
In the wild
Lederman's two high-school sons repeatedly say 'I can't do this,' which she reframes as 'I haven't figured out how to do this yet,' giving them an opening to learn and improve.
→ A closed judgment turned into a growth-oriented action statement.
She contrasts 'I'm not a good public speaker' (judgment) with 'I'm not a good public speaker yet' (possibility/action), showing how one word changes the trajectory.
→ A fixed self-label converted into a path for improvement.
Common mistakes
Speaking in conclusions
Declaring 'I can't' as a verdict removes any opening to learn or get better and becomes self-fulfilling.
Ignoring self-directed language
Assuming self-talk is harmless overlooks that words influence you first, shaping how you show up and how others respond.
Is it for you?
Best for
Anyone whose inner voice defaults to 'I can't' or 'I'm not good at this.'
Not ideal for
Situations requiring honest acknowledgment of a genuine hard limit.
From the transcript
“are your statements action-based or judgment based”
“saying I haven't figured out how to do this yet is an action it gives you momentum”
“I'm not a good public speaker yet possibility action”
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