3 Ways to Leverage The Rule of Three
By: Ryan Brence
Growing up as a coach's kid, there were many sayings that I remember my dad rattling off to his players. As a ball boy always hanging around the fieldhouse, I inevitably heard these mantras over and over again in the background.
“Trust your instincts.”
“Just get started.”
“Deal in truth.”
Some stuck with me more than others, but as you can tell from the mottos shown above, one of his all-time favorites was the following:
“Do things in three’s.”
When it came down to it, the three things that stood out the most to me about my dad's coaching philosophy included having a plan, communicating it clearly, and keeping it simple.
The Rule of Three
The Rule of Three is a powerful technique or principle used for communicating or organizing one’s thoughts to promote clarity and brevity in expression.
This idea dates back to the ancient Romans who valued The Rule of Three. A Latin saying, “Omne trium perfectum,'' literally means “everything that comes in three’s is perfect.” Our American forefathers penned the Declaration of Independence using three specific unalienable rights - Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Today, you can find this rule in almost any subject or setting. From children’s songs (ABC's) to real estate (location, location, location) to spirituality (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), we are wired to process things in three’s.
So, how does this concept relate to intentional living and leadership? Well, you guessed it - I got three take-aways for you…
1. Pick your top 3 priorities to complete each day.
We all know life is busy and consists of overflowing tasks and to-do's that continue to pile up with each passing day. Whether you have a spouse and kids, manage multiple clients, or enjoy numerous hobbies (probably all of the above), life can quickly become overwhelming and very difficult to decide what to do next.
A team activity that I’ve come to truly appreciate over the years is the daily stand-up call. Typically, in these settings, you go around the room and everyone gives their top three priorities for the day. I’ve discovered that this is a great forcing mechanism for me to prioritize and focus on what are the most important tasks for the day. In selecting my top three priorities, I have greater clarity on what I need to work towards in order to create momentum and move closer towards accomplishing my goals.
If you’re having trouble deciding on the top three priorities for the day, consider your company or personal goals to help guide your efforts. Generally, I do my best to nest my daily priorities with my goal milestones so that I’m actively, albeit slowly but surely, making progress towards what’s most important to me.
These three priorities could also be three keystone habits that propel us forward day in and day out. For me, those include quiet time with God, working out, and reviewing my Personal Direction Plan. Iterate, iterate, iterate until you find what works to help you intentionally take action on a daily basis.
2. Plan and communicate more clearly and effectively.
From a young age, we use patterns to process information. Whether it's the ABC’s, 1-2-3's, or Ready Set Go, three seems to be the smallest grouping needed to establish a pattern in our minds. It makes ideas stick by utilizing brevity to pack a powerful punch that becomes ingrained in our heads.
So, whenever I begin working on a new project, I apply the Rule of Three by coming up with three main points or ideas to communicate. This could be in the form of an outline, meeting agenda, or presentation, but I've found that having three key focus areas provides a sound and succinct outline (think beginning, middle, and end) to be memorable for myself and the audience.
Another thought to consider is repeating short phrases or sentences that convey the main thesis. While these reminders do not have to just be three words, concise and commanding statements are ones that we all end up paying attention to (thanks mom and dad for the discipline…).
3. Live in alignment with who you want to be - Think, Say, and Do
When I pray, I find myself consistently coming back to requesting God to help me honor Him in all that I think, say, and do. I want to live in alignment with who God has called me to be, and I want my values to show up in each of those three areas, regardless of who I am with or what is going on around me.
It all starts with the battle for our minds, so I do my best to saturate my thoughts with God’s Word and the many blessings I have in my life. From my thoughts, I want to speak life into every person that I encounter and seek opportunities to encourage others. Finally, I want my actions to align with my thoughts and words. This includes doing what I say I’m going to do and owning my faults and transgressions when I fail to act in accordance with who I want to be.
When it comes to identity, The Rule of Three provides a foundation for considering how to show up in all areas, whether it be our thought life, interactions, or actions. For more regarding identity and how to be your own Chief Reminder Officer, read another Intentional Leader blog post here.
While I used to get tired of hearing my dad sound like a broken record with all of his repetitive sayings, I now realize that he was leveraging the influential Rule of Three to get his primary points across. He knew he held an important platform to not only coach, but more importantly, impact generations of players for years to come.
By having a plan (top 3 daily priorities), communicating clearly and effectively, and always remembering our identity (think, say, and do), we can also leverage the powerful compounding effects of The Rule of Three to make an impact in our own unique spheres of influence.
But while The Rule of Three may seem simple, it doesn’t mean it’s always easy to implement or enact. So, as my dad would say…
“Just. Get. Started.”
If you’re interested in growing in your leadership practice and being inspired to think differently and unlock greater personal potential, we want to give you a gift. Just click the link below and tell us where to send you 12 Ideas That Will Make You A Better Leader In 2022.
Ryan Brence is passionate about intentionally growing in his faith, relationships, and personal & professional knowledge. As a coach's son, Ryan grew up playing sports in Texas which eventually led him to play football at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
In the US Army, Ryan graduated from Airborne and Ranger School and served over eight years as an air defense artillery and civil affairs officer both at home and abroad.
After transitioning into the civilian sector, Ryan has worked in several roles spanning from sales and business development to operations and account management. He currently lives in Dallas, TX with his wife and two daughters and enjoys working out, reading, writing, and watching his favorite sports teams - Go Cowboys and Beat Navy!
