Often, yes. "Just wanted to check in," "I just wanted to ask," "just following up" — the "just" is meant to sound polite, and it does soften the tone. But to native US, UK, and Canadian ears on an international team, it softens too much. A run of "just"s reads as tentative, as if you're apologizing for the message before you've sent it. A fluent non-native who writes "just wanted to" out of courtesy can come across as unsure or junior, even when the work behind the email is senior. Drop the "just" and lead with the action: "Following up on…," "Here's the update…," "Can you confirm…?"
The instinct is good. You're trying not to be pushy, so you cushion the request. The problem is that "just" minimizes you rather than the request. It tells the reader you expect to be a bother, and native colleagues hear hesitation in that.
The fix isn't to be blunt. State the thing directly and let the warmth come from your wording, not from shrinking the message.
Lead with the action or the question instead of softening your way into it:
Instead of
"Just wanted to follow up on the proposal."
Write
"Following up on the proposal."
Naming the action sounds in-control; the "just" makes a normal follow-up sound like an apology for sending it.
Instead of
"I just wanted to ask if you'd had a chance to review it."
Write
"Have you had a chance to review it?"
The direct question is still polite and reads as confident; the "just wanted to ask" buries the question under hedging.
Instead of
"Just checking in to see where things stand."
Write
"Where do things stand on this?"
Leading with the real question respects everyone's time; "just checking in" signals you expect to be a bother.
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