The Rule of Threes

When crafting your remarks for a press conference or presentation, consider a tool that's been used in literature and speech writing throughout history: the rule of threes.

People respond well to three points. We think in terms of good, better, best. Scripture talks of faith, hope and love. Lincoln employed the tactic in his Gettysburg address with "...of the people, by the people, for the people."

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So, if you're planning to talk with a reporter or make a television appearance, be thinking of the top three points you want to convey. The reasons you support a proposal might boil down to cost, safety and effectiveness. A political candidate might want to build his or her platform around jobs, education and healthcare. A new business venture might be described in terms of mission, features and savings.

The key is to think through each of the three items and be sure each point can stand on its own. Have an example of why or how each point fits into the bigger picture. Use statistics to bolster each point. 

The rule of threes is often one rule you don't want to break.