Why You Should Think in Threes

Why You Should Think in Threes

There has been scientific research done into how our brains retain information. The advertising industry learned long ago that repeating a jingle or catch-phrase three times increases retention 89%. The music industry has also applied this science to producing hit songs, with the “formula” typically repeating the chorus three times during the track of the song. How many of you can complete this chorus – “Jenny, Jenny, who can I turn to … 867-53_ _ (fill in the blank)?”

In my own work, I strive to tap into this research and often turn to what I call The Power of Threes. Business is about translating vision and strategy into execution. Something as simple as organizing your ideas in threes can be the key to focusing you and your organization on the most important priorities.

Here are some ways we apply the Power of Threes at Intuit: 

  • Focus on the Critical Few: Six Sigma training illuminated that six or fewer variables are often causal to an outcome, with all others being correlated. This insight helped narrow many leaders’ “top 10 objectives” to a half dozen at the turn of the century. My experience has found that another leap forward in execution happens when you recognize that teams are powered by human beings, and our brains are naturally attuned to “threes.” Therefore, by narrowing to the “top three things” to focus on, we find that we achieve much greater velocity and improved outcomes.
  • Tell Your Story in Threes: In communication, the cliché of “tell them what you’re going to tell them … tell them … and then tell them what you told them” once again highlights the Power of Threes. Great drama is structured around three acts, and the same is true for communicating with teams. Think of an effective advertisement – someone struggles with a problem, a solution is introduced, and the benefits are clear. More simply stated – headache, aspirin, relief. Organizing your communications into three clear sections or messages helps an audience remember what you said and what you want them to do.
  • Stick with your Story: Once you have your three, stick to them. As I learned from my parents, repetition doesn’t ruin the prayer. No matter how much you might want to expand and expound, straying away from your critical three only creates confusion. As A.G. Lafley, the former CEO of Procter & Gamble, once shared with me, “keep it Sesame Street simple” and know that while you may have repeated it a thousand times, someone in the audience is hearing it for the first time. You want to make sure your team not only understands the game plan and objectives, but can easily remember and repeat it to others.

The Power of Threes is no magic bullet. The implementation of any successful strategy is a multi-faceted effort. Yet for leaders looking to focus their organizations and communicate what is most important, never underestimate the Power of Threes!  

closing account

Closing account

11 个月

Marvelous introduction to the use of "threes". For those who appreciate the concept on a more intuitive cognitive level, they can see the content as a representation of a more fundamental architecture which is found in all subjects in varying models and usage, be it physics, biology, and even mathematics, though the latter is attuned to the binary like the yin and yang structure. For those with a personal pursuit of the "threes" phenomena, Brad Smith's expose' reveals a genuine grasp of not only the presence of "threes" in our lives but how they can be applied in different contextual settings. In addition, for those who are on the verge of realization that Brad Smith no doubt has ventured into on a personal level, let me provided 3 references: https://www.meddean.luc.edu/lumen/meded/grossanatomy/threes.html https://www.bookofthrees.com https://www.threesology.org

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Good point, Brad. Thank you.

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Memory Ahec

Network Marketing Leader | Home Based Business Expert | Network Business Growth Specialist | Industry Training Leader

7 年

Great post and good points.

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Kem Thomas-Lutz

We preserve the life, the love and the legacy of people you love. Saving voices, smiles & stories of individuals, families and special events through audio or video interviews.?

7 年

Thank you so much for this reminder, Brad as one looks across the universe it seems that three is the foundational principle..the egg, the seed, the tree, the fruit even new life even comes into being from three..

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