Have you ever noticed in life how things are naturally configured in groups of 3? Consider:
There are 3 reasons for us to remember this key principle in developing our communication skills. I’m going to call this the ABC rule of 3, just to mix my metaphors:
1. A = Audience
The rule of 3 helps writers and presenters make their subject matter more memorable with their audience. The rule of 3 strikes the right balance between being brief enough to remember, but long enough to create a pattern or story. Consider this famous Winston Churchill quote:
“A good speech should be like a woman’s skirt; long enough to cover the subject and short enough to create interest.”
2. B = Brain
It turns out, there a good scientific reason for this phenomena as well. Our brains are conditioned to remember chunks of information when they are served to us in groups of 3. When information comes in a packet of 3, the outcome is more effective, it more satisfying, and surprisingly, it can even be funnier. Consider the following:
“An accountant is someone who solves a problem you never knew you had, in a way you don’t understand and for a fee you can’t afford.”
3. C = Credibility
By breaking our information into three parts, we elevate our credibility by conveying a key message that is both simple and catchy. The Latin phrase, “omne trium perfectum” (everything that comes in 3s is perfect, or, every set of 3 is complete) is an elegant origin of the idea that has cascaded through the ages. Communicating in three parts gives you an air of confidence.
Today you’ll find the rule of 3s around you in everyday life, yet few of us incorporate it into the finance information we produce and distribute. Like it or not, the finance function is in the news dissemination business and competing against the likes of twitter, facebook, and yahoo for the attention of our managers. Those with responsibility for reporting financial results would be well served to keep this rule in mind.
Do you want your readers to remember none of your important insights or the three most important?
To learn more about this topic, take our “Delivering Killer Presentations for Financial Executives”professional development course today.
“Blair has jam-packed this presentation on Developing Killer Presentation Skills for Finance Executives with first class ideas and extremely valuable tips and techniques. This is a MUST course for anyone interested in furthering their career who gives or aspires to give effective presentations, regardless of the setting. Thanks Blair for a lively, entertaining, informative and skilled course. I only wish I had taken this program long before now!” – Tom Nicole, CFO at PMI
“This is a prescriptively effective course for anybody who wants an engaged audience to make an impact. There are several “how to” tips and techniques that users can incorporate depending on their respective audience and scope. Blair is a very compelling Educator. Well done!!” – Eric Kimball, CEO E4Globe
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