BOOST THE RETENTION OF INFORMATION WITH THE MAGICAL RULE OF 3'S

A few months ago on a Friday evening, sitting on the couch watching tv, I started the process of engaging a Copywriter for my business.?

As part of the form I had to fill out, they asked for my company values (along with other information about my business).

However, the problem was, that I didn’t have a core set of company values I could provide off-the-cuff……

Not because I hadn’t ever thought about them though.

I’d crafted them on many different occasions and felt like they were spot on each time too. But they’d just never *stuck*.

So, that very night, with a wine in hand, I went back to the drawing board.??

I brainstormed some values and the list was long. There were so many words I felt needed to be included to represent me accurately, my business, and how I operate. But I knew I couldn’t have 10+ values.

So I cut the list down and landed on the 5 values I thought best represented me and my brand. Then I input them into the form the Copywriter requested and went to bed.

However, the next day when reflecting on my values, I still couldn’t remember all 5 of them off the top of my head.?

I spoke with another business owner and they mentioned they also have roughly 5-7 values and they mentioned they have to write them down on a post-it-note so they can reference them when needed.

That seemed counter-productive to me.

Surely for values to be truly useful, they need to be with you at all times, directing decisions and influencing the choices you make!?

But, I just wasn’t sure *how* to get to that place where I could remember them off hand.

However, the answer revealed itself soon enough........

A few days later I was listening to an entrepreneurial Podcast where a lady was asked about her company values. Interestingly she was able to reel hers off, without a moment of hesitation, just-like-that.

Gahh!! She talked about them with so much certainty! Just like I wanted to.

Straight away the reason seemed obvious to me. She only had 3 values.

I needed to cut my list down to make them stick in my mind and be useful to me!

So, I sat down with a pen and paper and whittled my list of 5 values down.?

I grouped them, tweaked them, mulled over them, and then landed on just 3.

Three things that I felt actually really did sum me and my business up very well.?

They were:

1. Transformation

2. Joy

3. Practicality

Yass! It felt so clear to me at that point!

It was me and my business, in just 3 simple words. It also summed things up?better than when I'd had even *more* values!

However, the biggest test was whether they now *stuck* in my mind.

The next day, I was able to recall them. Even better, for every day since, they’re there, top of mind! Able to be recalled wherever I am and whenever I need them.

No need to write them down on a post-it note in order to be able to recall them.

Voila!! Problem solved.?

It’s funny because I know about the Power of 3’s.

I teach it in my Powerful Presenter Group Program and with clients whenever I’m prepping them to share information verbally. I just hadn’t connected the dots myself to this type of application.

So, here's the lesson for you.

If you want others to remember a set of discrete points, sick to the Magic Rule Of 3's.

When you're giving people a discrete set of points, whether it's the benefits of something you're talking about, or the various causes of a problem, don't reel off lots of things. Always try and stick to the rule of 3s.

Because, information is only really *useful* to people if they can recall it when required (without having to refer to that Slide Deck you used or that document the details are buried in).

Right!?

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Thank you for taking the time to read and subscribe!

Until next week,

Emily

Emily Edgeley is a Public Speaking Coach for the Technology industry. Since 2017 she’s run over 100 group coaching sessions, coached more than 200 people privately, and formally supported first-time and experienced speakers at 10 Conferences, covering 1000+ people across the globe.?

She’s on a mission to help anyone in Tech learn how to speak with more clarity, impact, and confidence (whether that’s at work or at a Conference). To boost their level of influence, personal brand, and career.