You've probably heard of the rule of three before. It's a principle that says that things that come in threes are more memorable, satisfying, and effective than other numbers of things.
Or how about the three wishes, the three bears, or the three little kittens? The list of popular “three things” can go on for a long time….but I’ll stop at 3!
Why? Because three is the magic number. The rule of three says to group things you want your audience to remember in threes, then stop.
Not four. Not five. Keep it in groups of three!
But why? Why, oh, why is 3 the magic number?
Well, first things first. The rule of three isn’t really a rule. It’s really more of a guideline! It’s simply a technique that uses repetition and rhythm to create a sense of completeness and satisfaction in your audience.
It works by presenting three elements that are related in some way, such as theme, structure, or contrast. The first element sets up the expectation, the second element reinforces it, and the third element delivers the payoff or the twist.
Think: beginning, middle, and end. That’s 3.
And that feels complete, doesn’t it? When we group things in 3, they come with a rhythm to them. It’s pleasing to our internal sense of balance and order.
Consider this famous quote from Julius Caesar:
"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears."
This sentence uses three groups of people. Caesar addresses the crowd and creates a sense of inclusiveness and urgency. The first group (friends) appeals to emotion, the second group (Romans) appeals to identity, and the third group (countrymen) appeals to patriotism. The sentence also has a rhythm and rhyme. The power of 3 makes it easy to remember and recite.
Another example is this old joke from Groucho Marx:
This old joke uses three elements to set up and deliver a punchline. The first element (outside of a dog) establishes the premise, the second element (a book is man's best friend) reinforces it, and the third element (inside of a dog) subverts it with a surprising twist. (The joke also plays on the ambiguity of the word "inside" and the contrast between dogs and books.)
So why does the power of three work so well? Why does it speak to us on a subconscious level?
Here are three reasons why!
1. Three is the smallest number that can form a pattern. Our brains naturally look for patterns to try to make sense of them. When we see or hear something repeated three times, we recognize it as a meaningful sequence. So we innately pay more attention to it.
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2. Three is an ideal balance between too few and too many. If you use only one or two elements, your story might seem incomplete or boring. If you use more than three elements, your story might seem overwhelming or confusing. Three elements give you enough variety and complexity without losing focus or clarity.
3. Three creates a sense of progression and resolution. The first element introduces an idea or a problem, the second element develops it or complicates it, and the third element resolves it or reveals its true nature. This gives your story a satisfying arc and a sense of closure.
And let’s face it. Three is easy to remember and recall! Our short-term memory can only hold about seven items at a time. But we can chunk those items into smaller groups to make them even easier to process. Three is an ideal chunk size that allows us to store and retrieve information more efficiently.
As a storyteller, here are three ways you can tap into the power of three.
1. Use three acts to structure your story. The first act introduces the characters, setting, and conflict; the second act escalates the tension and complicates the situation; and the third act resolves the conflict and shows the consequences.
2. Use three scenes to develop your plot. Each scene should have a beginning, middle, and end; a goal, conflict, and outcome; and a change in status quo for your characters.
3. Use three characters to create dynamic relationships. Each character could have a distinct personality, motivation, or role.
The power of three is a time-tested technique that can help you craft more engaging, memorable, and satisfying stories. By using three elements that are related in some way, you can create a sense of completeness and satisfaction in your audience.
Try it out and see how it works for you. And remember, the rule of three is not a rule, but a guideline. You can always break it or bend it to suit your needs. After all, the most important thing is to share a good story!
Hey, what are you doing Saturday afternoon? Because Sonal Agrawal and I will be hosting an audio event here on LinkedIn. We'll be discussing how we manage our fear of public speaking.
Here's a dirty little secret no one likes to talk about: what works for one person may not work for another! And even more vexing: what used to work for you may not work for you when you get older!
We'll discuss different techniques we use to channel nervous energy and transform it into enthusiasm!
And as usual, we invite audience participation. If you have something to share about managing public speaking anxiety, we'd love to hear from you!
Join us here:
(1) Managing Your Public Speaking Fears | LinkedIn
