The Magic of the Three-Part Structure in Presentations

You’re probably overestimating your audience.  They simply won’t take in as much information as you expect when you present, unless it’s a lecture and they’re making notes.

With the technical specialists I train in communication skills, there’s a leaning towards information dumping, specifically of the data type. They want to relay to their audiences everything that should really be in handouts, not in presentation.

Of course one could harness storytelling as one way to increase effectiveness. To make communication skills sharper, especially when presenting, the key is this:

Make fewer points and cluster them (even with storytelling).

You won’t be shortchanging your audience: you’ll be treating them.

Clustering information:

It’s easier to remember and recall information when we group it. Art Markman, author of ‘Smart Thinking’ explains this with an analogy about peanuts. Imagine pulling peanuts out of a bowl one at a time.  Now, envision pouring caramel over the peanuts: you pull out a whole cluster as they stick together. Grouped points, like those peanuts, are easier to grab: you raise an issue, grouping interrelated topics around that issue, making them all easier to recall through their interconnection.

But how many groups are digestible in a presentation?

The Rule of Three in Presenting: A Formula for Impact

The Rule of Three is a powerful technique in public speaking and presentations, making ideas more memorable, persuasive, and satisfying. Whether structuring your speech, reinforcing key points, or crafting a compelling conclusion, three-part phrasing enhances clarity and retention.

So significant was the rule of three in rhetoric that the Ancient Greeks and Romans had their own single words for it.

Hendiatris: this is the Ancient Greek concept of using three successive words to express a single complex idea. A contemporary example could be: ‘Test, Validate, Transform’ to encapsulate the three stages of clinical trials, the longer form of which would take this structure:

1. Testing new treatments;
2. Validating their efficacy and safety;
3. Transforming patient care and medical knowledge.

Longer phrasing would serve the body of your presentation well, along with explanations and supporting points. The shorter phrases – the hendiatris – provides a neat and memorable end to the talk.

Tricolon: this is how the Romans would refer to three elements balanced in length and structure such as with Julius Ceasar’s “Veni, Vidi, Vici” but are also reflected, as you’ll see above, in that shorter succession of words.

Why Three?

It’s not a random number. There are several reasons that three is so effective:

The Rationale for the Power of Three in Messaging

Three-part phrasing enhances recall and engagement:

• Easy to remember: Research suggests short-term memory retains about four bits of information, making three a sweet spot for recall. If you have four points in a presentation, that wouldn’t be pushing it. Either, way, you still need to repeat as there’s a general hierarchy for memory, as follows:
  • Beginning – we’ll recall initial statements
  • End – your conclusion will be the next easiest to remember
  • Middle – this is where you’ll need to cluster in order to make recall more efficient.

• Familiar pattern: The brain loves patterns, and three-part structures have been used for centuries. Think of:
  • “Veni, Vidi, Vici.” (Julius Caesar)
  • “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.” (Thomas Jefferson)
  • “A Mars a day helps you work, rest, and play.” (Advertising slogan)

• Rhythmic completion: Three-part phrases create a satisfying rhythm, reinforcing the message with a initial thought, the build and the close. This is why a three-part phrase at the end of a meeting or presentation can be so effective. Even Winston Churchill’s famous “Blood, Sweat, and Tears” speech originally included “Toil”, but the three-part version stuck in public memory.

Structuring Your Presentation in Three Parts

A well-structured presentation follows a three-part format:

• Beginning: Set the stage—introduce the problem or opportunity.
• Middle: Provide solutions, insights, or supporting arguments.
• End: Deliver a strong call to action or resolution.

The difference between a 5-minute presentation and a 20-minute presentation

Thinking back to those clusters earlier, three is still the optimum, although two or four could also work.  The difference is that the clusters would be smaller so in a five-minute presentation, you might make one main point and support it with an example before moving on to the next point.  In a longer presentation, you’ll have more time to add supporting points to your main one.

Your Action

1. Start with your mindmap to draw up the middle of your talk.

2. That will lead you swiftly on to the end of the presentation.

3. Lastly, write the opening, sticking to the structue in the link above.  You can only write that when you know what you’re talking about. Hence, you draft the middle first.

This order for drafting a presentation isn’t a rule, but a guideline. Sometimes it rolls out in your mind from beginning to end, chronologically, but usually, it doesn’t. This order will more often generate your ideas quicker.

Final Thought

The Rule of Three isn’t just a technique—it’s a timeless formula for clarity, persuasion, and impact. Whether structuring your talk, crafting memorable phrases, or closing with conviction, three-part messaging ensures your audience remembers and responds.

If you’re looking for make your presentations have more clarity and impact, look at my presentation skills training or take a look at my public speaking courses. Be less vanilla and more THRILLER.

Get in touch with me here for a free 15-minute Discovery Call.