hold the room.

Glossary

Rule of three

People remember three things far more easily than seven. Group your points, reasons or examples in threes.

From the lesson

Three, not seven

Nobody has ever complained that a point was made too clearly in too few words. Yet most of us pad: we warm up, we add disclaimers, we go round in circles. The fix is structure, and the most durable structure is the rule of three. Three points, three reasons, three examples. Three is easy to remember. Seven is not.

Day 15 · Say Less, Land More: How to make a point clearly: PREP and the rule of three

A story with the lights on

A presentation is a story with the lights on. Everything from the last three weeks applies at once, which is why it comes in Week 4. The structure: a hook in the first 20 seconds (a question, a number, a one-line story), one message said three ways, and a close that tells people what to do. “What is / what could be” is the shape; the rule of three is the discipline.

Day 24 · Presenting to a Room: How to give a presentation: hook, one message, three supports, call to action

Where it comes up

Related terms

  • Follow-up questionA question about what the person just told you. It proves you listened and keeps them talking.
  • Physiological sighTwo breaths in through the nose (one big, one short top-up), then one long, slow breath out through the mouth. It can help you settle.
  • Two sighsTwo physiological sighs: a big breath in through the nose, a short top-up sniff, then a long, slow breath out through the mouth. Do it twice. It can help you settle.
  • Call to actionThe one thing you want people to do after your talk, said clearly at the end.
  • The boxThe space between your waist and shoulders, within the width of your body. Gestures there look natural and in control.

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