There is a rule that I believe most of us are not familiar with, at least I wasn’t aware of it until about a year ago when I started writing the book “Faith and the Modern Family.” Let me explain.
It’s called The Rule of Three and it “Suggests things that come in threes are inherently funnier, more satisfying, or more effective than other numbers of things. The reader or audience of this form of text is also more likely to consume information if it is written in groups of threes.” When you stop and think about it we are taught from a young age about the number three through stories, movies and everyday phrases. Here are some examples.
- The Three Blind Mice
- The Three Little Pigs
- The Three Musketeers
- Goldilocks and the Three Bears
- The Three Stooges
- Oh, How about the Butcher Baker and Candlestick Maker
- Good, Better, Best
- Beginning, Middle, End
- Ready, Set, Go
- Lights, Camera, Action
- Reading, Writing and Arithmetic
- Blood, Sweat and Tears
- Three Wise Men
- Father, Son and Holy Spirit
Why Three?
It’s Simple, It’s Memorable, It’s Retrievable. (See what I did there?)
1. Simple
2. Memorable
3. Retrievable
The Rule of 3 just works. The reason it works is the number three is the lowest number that can be used to make a mental pattern in our minds and regardless of how our closet or office looks our brains like to organize stuff so we can recall what we have learned.
As leaders we need to communicate in a way that is meaningful, memorable, and motivational for those who are part of our organization. Mastering the rule of three will help improve our communication and make us more effective in the long run especially when we are trying to communicate our vision mission and values! The rule of three not only applies to words but how many times you say those words.
This week, think in three’s.
Do you have a unique example of how you use the rule of three where you work? Please take a moment and share it with the Empowered Living community.
Here is something to think about:
The first time you say something it’s Creative
The second time you say something it’s a Clear
The third time you say something it’s Compelling
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_three_(writing)