The 1:3:1 Rule: How to Make Better, Faster Decisions Without Bottlenecks
The Moment It Clicked
A few weeks ago, a team member brought me a customer support issue. She laid out the entire situation in detail, what went wrong, who it affected, why it mattered. I appreciated the clarity.
But then she stopped.
And I found myself asking the same question I always do in those moments:
“So what do you think we should do about it?”
Silence.
That pause told me everything. We had trained our team to spot problems. We hadn’t trained them to solve them.
And that’s on me.
Why Teams Get Stuck in Decision Bottlenecks
Here’s the hard truth: when your team brings you problems without offering solutions, you become the bottleneck. You start making every decision yourself. You become the fixer instead of the coach.
It’s not that they’re incapable. It’s that we’ve accidentally trained them to think like permission-seekers instead of leaders.
I’ve seen this play out over and over.
• “Here’s a problem. What should I do?”
• “This went wrong. I thought you should know.”
It creates a culture of escalation instead of ownership. One where the leader becomes the default solver. And that doesn’t scale.
Worse, it teaches your team to think tactically, not strategically. They become excellent at problem-spotting, but they never build the muscle of problem-solving.
The Framework That Shifted Everything
That’s why we implemented the 1:3:1 Rule.
It’s a simple framework we use at Text In Church that’s completely changed how our team handles challenges. Here’s how it works:
1 Problem
Start by naming the problem clearly and concisely. Don’t ramble, get to the core issue.
3 Possible Solutions
Offer three well-thought-out options. Each should include pros and cons. This is where strategic thinking happens.
1 Recommendation
Make your pick. Tell me what you believe is the best move and why.
That’s it. One problem. Three solutions. One recommendation.
This structure does more than just save time, it teaches our team how to lead. It forces them to evaluate trade-offs, think critically, and own their recommendations.
What It Looks Like in Real Life
A few weeks after that silent pause, the same team member came back with a new issue. But this time, she led with a solution mindset.
“Our support response times are slowing down again,” she said.
“Here are three ways we could fix it…”
She laid out the problem. Gave three clear options. And confidently recommended one: redesigning internal workflows first, since it was fastest and most cost-effective.
We talked it through, asked a few questions, then greenlit the plan.
What used to take 30 minutes of back-and-forth took five.
No bottleneck. No micromanaging. Just clarity, alignment, and forward motion.
The Bigger Win: Building Leaders, Not Followers
The 1:3:1 Rule isn’t just about decision speed, it’s about leadership development.
When someone brings me three options and a recommendation, they’re not just solving a problem. They’re practicing leadership.
They’re learning how to weigh options.
They’re thinking about impact, not just tasks.
They’re building confidence in their own judgment.
And that’s the goal.
I don’t want a team full of people who need my sign-off on every little thing. I want a team full of people who know how to think, act, and lead like owners.
How to Start Using the 1:3:1 Rule
It’s not complicated. Here’s how you roll it out:
1. Set the expectation
Make it clear that any time someone brings a problem, they should also bring three options and one recommendation.
2. Model the response
When someone brings just a problem, pause and ask:
“What are three ways we could solve this?”
Send them back to think. Don’t solve it for them.
3. Reinforce the habit
Celebrate it when people do it well. Thank them for thinking through solutions. Encourage the behavior you want to see.
This small shift builds a culture of ownership. And it spreads fast.
The Ripple Effect
What surprised me most wasn’t how effective the 1:3:1 Rule was with me, but how quickly the team started using it with each other.
Meetings got faster. Cross-team decisions got easier. People stopped waiting for permission and started moving things forward.
That’s what happens when you teach your team to think like leaders.
🎥 Watch: The 1:3:1 Rule: How I Stopped Bottlenecking My Team
I filmed a quick walkthrough of how we use the 1:3:1 Rule at Text In Church, why we started, what shifted, and what it looked like inside real conversations.
If this framework is new to your team, or you’re trying to build more ownership without creating more meetings, this might help.
Ready to Try It?
Here’s your next move:
Next time someone brings you a problem, don’t solve it. Ask for three solutions and one recommendation.
It might feel awkward at first. That’s okay.
Over time, your team will build the confidence, clarity, and strategic thinking that leadership requires.
And you’ll spend less time in the weeds, and more time scaling what matters.
Want to build this kind of thinking into your leadership rhythm?
The 1:3:1 Rule is just one of the practical frameworks inside the 30-Day Leadership Growth Plan. This free guide will help you lead with more clarity, focus, and follow-through, without burning out.
You’ll learn four simple daily habits and a monthly one-on-one rhythm that’s helped me, and my team, stay aligned and growing, even in busy seasons.
If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and start building lasting leadership habits, grab the plan. It’s free, it’s actionable, and it takes less than 30 minutes a day to implement.
Start building the kind of leadership culture your team deserves.
Download the 30-Day Leadership Growth Plan and take the next step.
About Tyler Smith
Tyler Smith is the co-founder and CEO of Text In Church, a communication platform built to help churches connect with their people beyond Sunday mornings. With over 20 years of leadership experience, Tyler shares practical strategies to help church and business leaders grow with clarity and confidence.
He’s a husband, dad, and lifelong learner who’s passionate about building systems that empower people and strengthen communities.
👉 Connect with Tyler on LinkedIn for more leadership and communication insights.
