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In business, problems arise daily—tight deadlines, shifting priorities, client concerns, and operational hurdles. The challenge isn’t just solving these problems; it’s doing so efficiently and strategically without unnecessary bottlenecks.
At TC Productions, we believe in empowering leadership with a structured decision-making approach that eliminates guesswork and fosters accountability. That’s where the 1-3-1 Rule comes in.
This simple yet effective framework ensures that every problem is approached with clarity, multiple solutions, and a strong recommendation—before escalating issues to senior leadership. It keeps operations running smoothly, improves problem-solving skills, and ensures decisions are made with intent, not impulse.
Let’s break down how the 1-3-1 Rule works, why it’s essential for corporate teams, and how your company can implement it today.
What Is the 1-3-1 Rule?
The 1-3-1 Rule is a structured approach to solving problems. It follows a straightforward formula:
- Define ONE clear problem.
- Explore THREE viable solutions.
- Make ONE strong recommendation.
This approach forces clarity, eliminates knee-jerk reactions, and ensures that decision-making is grounded in logic, feasibility, and business impact.
Why Use the 1-3-1 Rule?
Most corporate challenges don’t require reinventing the wheel or calling an emergency meeting. They require structured thinking. Here’s why the 1-3-1 Rule is effective:
✅ Encourages Independent Problem-Solving – Team members take ownership of challenges instead of immediately escalating them.
✅ Saves Time & Resources – Fewer meetings, faster resolutions, and more efficient use of leadership’s time.
✅ Creates Smarter Decision-Makers – Employees learn to weigh pros and cons, improving their critical thinking.
✅ Standardizes Decision-Making – Everyone follows the same structure, ensuring consistency across departments.
Implementing the 1-3-1 Rule in Our Company
Let’s put the framework into action with a real-world scenario.
Example 1: Managing Client Expectations Under Tight Deadlines
Problem:
A corporate client requests an expedited video production timeline that isn’t feasible given current workload and resources. This is our our production coordinator should handle this before escalating to our business manager.
Three Viable Solutions:
- Streamline Production – Reduce unnecessary revisions, limit the scope of edits, and focus on the core messaging.
- Bring in Additional Support – Bring on a junior editor to speed up post-production without sacrificing quality.
- Negotiate a Realistic Deadline – Have a candid conversation with the client, setting expectations on achievable timelines beforehand.
Recommendation:
The best solution is to streamline production while simultaneously bringing in additional support to maintain quality. If the client remains inflexible, negotiate an adjusted timeline as a last resort.
This process ensures that our production coordinator explore multiple angles before bringing a challenge to our business manager. Instead of saying, “This can’t be done,” the conversation becomes, “Here are our options, and this is the best path forward.”
Example 2: Solving Internal Bottlenecks in Operations
Problem:
Our lead video editor is struggling to meet deadlines due to an inefficient workflow, slowing down project turnaround times. Here are the steps needed to be taken before escalating to the production coordinator, who maybe putting together another project.
Three Viable Solutions:
- Implement Pre-Set Templates – Reduce editing time by creating standardized project templates.
- Automate Repetitive Tasks – Use AI-based editing tools to streamline basic edits and save manual effort.
- Reallocate Tasks – Adjust team responsibilities to distribute the workload more effectively. Bring in a junior editor or reach out to the production assistant that was on the shoot to streamline which takes are actually needed for editing.
Recommendation:
The most effective solution is to implement pre-set templates while automating repetitive tasks. This keeps workflow efficient without overburdening the team.
How to Ensure Company-Wide Adoption of the 1-3-1 Rule
To integrate this framework into your company culture, leadership must set the expectation that every challenge brought forward should come with a 1-3-1 analysis.
1️⃣ Training & Onboarding – Ensure all leadership positions understand the 1-3-1 framework and how to use it.
2️⃣ Enforce the Rule – Before discussing a problem in meetings, require team members to present one clear problem, three solutions, and one recommendation.
3️⃣ Document the Process – Keep a written record of problem-solving cases to track decisions and improve future processes.
Ready to Transform Your Strategy? Smarter Problem-Solving Starts Here
At TC Productions, we believe that structured decision-making creates stronger teams. The 1-3-1 Rule ensures that problem-solving is proactive, efficient, and grounded in strategy.
Encourage your team to apply this framework before escalating issues—because the best leaders aren’t just the ones who find problems; they’re the ones who solve them.
Want to see structured decision-making in action with our experts? Let’s talk about how strategic video solutions can streamline your company’s messaging and internal communications. Schedule a FREE consultation today.