Then, in month or so before changeover, it began communicating on several fronts. It held information sessions with employees, it sent each employee an information package, it sent out a special edition of its newsletter, it offered in-house computer programs for calculations and enrollment, and it offered appointments with benefits personnel if employees felt they needed individual counselling.

Employees got information in several formats, and at several different times, greatly increasing odds that most of them would make informed decisions.

The odds that they would understand their choices went up because of different learning styles. And, needless to say, their ability to learn varies from time to time.

Some people learn best by reading (and you may be one of them since you're reading this article). Others may learn more effectively by listening, while yet others do best when they act in some way (like using a computer program).

Similarly, you may not be receptive to new information about a benefits program right now because you're focused on an important meeting later today. Or perhaps you'll be more interested in subject after you talk with a friend and colleague at lunch tomorrow.

By using multiple channels and multiple times, we provide our readers/listeners/participants with several different learning options. That, in turn, means we increase odds there will be a time and method that's optimal for them.

It's same now that I'm out of corporate arena. Take my dream of being a writer. Changing careers after twenty-something years in management, I could have waited to write a column until I secured a writing contract for one. But, why would someone pay me to write without reading my words and knowing I can. Chicken and egg again.

What works for me has been consistent. When I do work first, rewards follow. I think of it like exercising. Doing it gives me better results than thinking about it. No one likes to be called a chicken, so ... be egg.

(c) 2004 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved.

Sign up to receive Nan’s free eColumn,, Winning at Working, at http://www.winningatworking.com. Nan Russell has spent over twenty years in management, most recently with QVC as a Vice President. Currently working on her first book, Nan is a writer, columnist, small business owner, and instructor.