Use the List of Three Rule – say two serious items and just when we expect one more equally somber point – add a funny/off the wall/light weight entry onto your list.

Here are some great List of Three Rule examples from President Obama’s remarks at his final White House Correspondents’ Dinner last week.

“Key staff are now starting to leave the White House.  Even reporters have left me.  Savannah Guthrie, she’s left the White House Press Corps to host the Today show.  Norah O’Donnell left the briefing room to host CBS This Morning.  Jake Tapper left journalism to join CNN.”

*****

“Anyway, in this last year I do have more appreciation for those who have been with me on this amazing ride, like one of our finest public servants, Joe Biden.  God bless him.  Love that guy. And I want to thank him for his friendship, for always giving it to me straight, for not shooting anybody in the face.”

*****

“…I see Mike Bloomberg. Mike, a combative, controversial New York billionaire is leading the GOP primary and it is not you. That has to sting a little bit. Although it’s not an entirely fair comparison between you and the Donald.  After all, Mike was a big-city mayor.  He knows policy in depth.  And he’s actually worth the amount of money that he says he is.”

Obama had the audience laughing. Use this technique and you will have your Board of Directors, your team, your organization laughing as well. In turn, your message gets “stickier” – we will remember more of what you’ve said because you’ve made us laugh.

Karen Cortell Reisman, M.S., author of 3 books and President of Speak For Yourself®, works with decision makers on how to speak with gravitas. It’s all in how you speak for yourself. Karen also speaks about her cousin, Albert Einstein, in a message about hope, resilience and brassieres.

Read more at www.SpeakForYourself.com/blog

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