The Three Before Me

One coaching technique I wish I had implemented earlier in my career is, “The Three Before Me Rule.” This rule is most commonly used in K-5 elementary classrooms but has tremendous potential for the VennLeader to use in all domains.

WARNING: This rule should not be used to sidestep the responsibilities of actual leadership. It is a coaching tool that if used properly will develop accountability and foster organizational learning. Please do not misconstrue what I’m sharing as a suggestion that one can sit behind a desk with their arms crossed and simply remind people to go ask someone else.

The Three Before Me Rule

“Check three places before coming to me with a question.“

The Reality

Using The Three Before Me Rule is a hell of a lot harder than simply handing out answers as people show up with questions. This approach requires the leader to be much more engaged and intentional about how they lead.

Tips for effective use

• Set expectations during reception and integration for new employees. If implementing the rule with a team that’s been together for a while consider introducing during a one-on-one session beginning with those who routinely ask questions that could be answered easily with other resources.
• Use the Decision Tree to establish when it is appropriate for people to come directly to you with a question.
• This is an accountability training tool. Consider using the Ladder of Accountability.
• Set conditions for success. If we are to expect others to check three resources before coming to us for knowledge they can attain elsewhere then it is incumbent upon us to promote those resources. For instance, if we want employees to refer to policies before asking a policy related question we should consolidate policies in an easy to research location. If we want our children to encourage the use of search engines such as Google and YouTube then we should teach people how the process of vetting answers they find on the internet.
• Build peer to peer training skills and encourage informal leaders to step up. Peers have a tremendous amount of influence in our lives. By encouraging people to ask their peers for answers first and teaching effective networking we can build a stringer learning culture in our organizations. One way of doing this is to assign individuals the responsibility of teaching and reinforcing basic skills with their peers. For instance, “Show your little brother how to take out the trash today.” Or, “Susan, I want you to walk the entire team through how you file the TPS report during the next staff meeting.”