THE RULE OF 3
Eloquent speech is a highly desirable trait; yet, not all of us are born with the gift of the gab. We can, however, improve. This article serves as the first in a series of tips for talking with impact and it focuses on The Rule of 3.
There is a Latin phrase, ‘omne trium perfectum’, which roughly means ‘trios are perfect’. Not in the sense of a ménage a trois; but rather, that the perfect way to group things, or present things, is in three. If you want an individual, an audience, a class, or a client, to easily remember your message, you should focus on three main points.
Where the thinking that ‘three is perfect’ first sprung from, is unclear; however, there are multiple, historical examples of this number being considered lucky, harmonious, or divine. Symbolism and tradition aside, we have been conditioned since childhood to accept information in threes. We start with our ABCs, our 123s, and our ‘do-re-mis’. We have three standard meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner, which we eat with a fork, knife, and spoon. Bedtime stories include the Three Little Pigs, Three Billy Goats Gruff, Three Musketeers, and the Three Blind Mice. Ever played Tic-Tac-Toe? Genies always grant three wishes, never one. We all have a past, present and future; beginning, middle, and end. Freud stipulated we have an id, ego, and superego. Abraham Lincoln was ‘for the people, by the people, of the people’. Foods are either carbohydrates, proteins, or fats. Your body type can be categorised as either mesomorph, ectomorph, or endomorph. Have an emergency? Dial 9-1-1 (or triple zero in Australia). In the military, before going to work, you have a shit, shower, and shave.
You get the picture.
So strong is our conditioning and acceptance for threes, that many advertising jingles use this to embed products into our minds. A Mars a day helps you to work, rest and play. Just Do It. Obey Your Thirst. Snap, Crackle and Pop!
You too can use the rule of 3 to your advantage! To get your message across, and make it stick, pick out three main points. For instance:
There are three things you need to know about our company: we strive for excellence, care for our customers, and place ethics above profit.
In our aim to achieve objective X, we need to remember three things: the weather is volatile, the land is contested, and the people are not happy. What this means is …
Employees should work no more than four days per week. Less hours means less stress, more time to rest the brain, and a greater work/life balance. Let me explain these in depth. Research shows that when our brains are relaxed, we are more innovative, we …
Try it today and see how you go!
The Warrior-Womxn's Guild 