In your work do you often have to convey the complex concisely (rephrased: are you alive and breathing in 2010)?
Then think, frame and speak and in 'threes' and you'll communicate with more conviction and clout.
There's no superstition or snake oil here, merely sound communication practice.
Your see, our brains readily take in and retain information in clusters of three.
So how can you get some trios playing toe-tapping tunes?
For a start, you could boil your core corporate messages down to three main points.
Like engineering group, Atkins, whose business is to 'plan - design - enable'.
Or WL Gore, the Gore-Tex outfit, which promises 'creative technologies worldwide'.
Alternatively, as insomnia therapy, tell them your vision, mission, values, purpose, core principles, outcomes, potted history, potted plants, zzz... .
Try having a three-part 'elevator pitch' ready for that unexpected 'and what do you do?' question in casual conversations or networking situations.
You could prepare three of your key strengths or three 'any questions about them' ahead of the job interview or tender pitch.
And how about keeping to three main points in the body copy of an ad or news release?
It's no accident that many of the best book titles are confined to three words. These are the hooks that draw attention and get you to read the subtitle and back cover promo.
This one's helpful when preparing to give a broadcast media interview: plan three main points you want to convey and keep coming back to them to reinforce your message.
Then there are the three anchors for a presentation outline, slide bullets, performance feedback points or meeting summary points. And so on.
OK, there are times when it's hard to avoid making two or five points, but for impactive, memorable communications, three packs a punch.
So, can you think of three areas where you can start birthing linguistic triplets from today?
