Special Agent Oso's Three Special Steps to Better Project Management

I am calling all parents! Do you remember the hours of quality television we used to watch with our children? Do you remember Special Agent Oso?

Special Agent Oso is the main character of the animated television series "Special Agent Oso." The series follows the adventures of Oso, a yellow stuffed bear who works for U.N.I.Q.U.E. (United Network for Investigating Quite Unusual Events). Oso's mission is to help children complete everyday tasks, such as brushing their teeth or tying their shoes, through a three-step process that he calls "three special steps." Oso is known for his catchphrase, "It's all part of the plan," which he says whenever something unexpected happens. The show was created by Ford Riley and produced by Disney Junior from 2009 to 2012.

Disregard Oso's penchant for messing up for a moment. Was he on to something with his three-step process? He sure was! Commonly known as the principle of three or the rule of three. The communication principle, "the rule of three," has a long history across different cultures, languages, and disciplines.

For example, the rule of three has been used in design to create visual balance and harmony. Designers often use a structure that groups three elements to create a sense of balance and symmetry. We can use this principle in project management, in particular communication. The rule of three works because it provides a sense of completeness, rhythm, and balance that appeals to our minds and emotions.

The rule of three effectively creates a pattern that is easy to follow and remember. Our brains are wired to look for patterns, and the rule of three provides a simple, concise, and memorable pattern. For example, you might structure a business case to adopt a new process by structuring your arguments or to deliver key points in a pattern of three where one is the best choice. Using three examples or critical ideas, you provide a clear and easy-to-follow structure that the audience can remember long after the meeting. In this way, the rule of three helps to make a message more impactful and memorable.

Another reason why the rule of three is effective is that it creates a sense of balance and completeness. We feel a sense of satisfaction or resolution when we see or hear things that come in threes (think about the standard 3 act play). This is because three is the smallest number that can create a pattern, and our brains perceive it as a complete and satisfying number. We love things with a beginning, a middle, and an end.

The rule of three is also practical because it provides variety and contrast. When things come in threes, they can be structured to create contrast or variation that keeps your audience engaged. For example, software developers use the rule of three to highlight the benefits of their product. The company creates a sense of variety and contrast that keeps the audience interested and engaged by using three different benefits.

The rule of three is a communication principle that is essential for an effective communication strategy. By creating a pattern that is easy to remember, providing balance and completeness, creating variety and contrast, and being versatile and adaptable, the rule of three can help to make a message more impactful, satisfying, and memorable. I like to group the six basic intogotives also known as the 5-whys (and an h) into two groups of three to structure most of my communications. Try this approach in your next email.