MR. RAMIREZ: Come in, Arnold. Have a seat.) C! _4 o$ q" @, L u
ARNOLD: Good morning.1 j. c2 I/ i1 T2 [" W, y
MR. RAMIREZ: Would you like something to drink?
8 z5 Z* c) F6 r9 O5 E+ G @ ARNOLD: No, thank you. I just had two cups of coffee at my desk.
/ l! h2 s* I; n6 p- I0 ` MR. RAMIREZ: So, you're a serious coffee drinker.
0 ?) J/ b# a$ H ARNOLD: Yes, it keeps me going. Sometimes I think I'm addicted." T* D/ j2 q! E0 o. J0 a# |) ?
MR. RAMIREZ: Well, coffee isn't such a bad thing.
- j8 x: y: ~1 H( G3 p* | Everyone has to have something.
* \" p2 ~0 X" z: N3 j0 \* h( i For me, it's cigars. Are you a cigar smoker?
6 }- r# i% |! v r( d0 k' \ ARNOLD: No, I've tried them. But I’m not really a smoker.8 B+ `, r9 E# Y3 f8 o# r1 T2 S
MR. RAMIREZ: Well, what would you like to talk to me about?8 `& v2 t* o, K8 N: ^
ARNOLD: I wanted to set up this meeting with you to discuss a little proposal.3 j- t: X& F8 j9 |( \5 O
MR. RAMIREZ: I'm glad when people have new ideas around here. Tell me about it.7 \" f. s8 `4 q7 m# j. r$ G
ARNOLD: It is about the staff meetings.0 d4 {/ W+ e( j( T' h4 u
You know how we have a staff meeting every Tuesday.% F/ E% ]) T) \& ]
MR. RAMIREZ: Yes.
0 _0 b Y, m' q. h5 ^. g ARNOLD: Well, I have been thinking about it.( X$ r0 T2 D9 ]3 `) B; w2 E. n
And I believe we could do things more efficiently here.7 P( n- U |& @
MR. RAMIREZ: What do you suggest?
: W0 t: i1 {/ O K, K ARNOLD: The way it is now, the staff from all four branches get together once a week.) p$ q& J r8 q0 w- e0 K
We meet for one hour. But I think a lot of time is wasted in transportation.6 S5 |4 v' i6 _" E& r
MR. RAMIREZ: You mean because people have to go across town to get here.# ~' }4 Y2 ?8 q0 S
ARNOLD: Yes. Some people spend half of the morning on the road.
* Q. X6 w) u; ^7 _4 S, H MR. RAMIREZ: That's true. But our staff meetings are very important, Arnold.. K Y: H0 B9 x; }8 G
I don't know how we can function without them.
2 ?: ? m) N l$ X- r. M! d8 [ ARNOLD: I think they are important too.# b7 R1 b' b& [# i6 q1 _
That's why I want people to have a better attitude about them.1 _/ l2 e: L: Q* M( G' x# d0 [# F
MR. RAMIREZ: I know a lot of people think the meetings aren't too useful.
, J% M) H3 {% A I'm aware of that.; P @0 R/ j( n- ^9 n
ARNOLD: Here's what I propose.5 n) u0 g8 I% |* ]# Q* X+ P% ]
I think we should meet once every two weeks, but meet for ninety minutes or more.& l% a ^ {# P$ p- u: B" z r
MR. RAMIREZ: Well.& [0 u2 @# g" j$ x% `* J
ARNOLD: I also think the meetings should be more focused.
4 z$ @4 G/ ~, i' ~ And I would be willing to take responsibility for that.
# ~5 P3 g; {. o MR. RAMIREZ: You mean you want to run the meetings?* [- J2 X0 X( A* S+ V z* |0 N
ARNOLD: No, not really run them. But I could help organize them.
8 y! z* g' B: m4 k# a) S I could discuss meeting topics with you, and then prepare a schedule for each meeting.
# D) s& l* R, @ q% k5 Q$ u I could then send an e-mail to all the staff to explain the coming meeting.) e# {5 k( x( f& H- R
This way the meetings would become more focused, and people would prepare better.
6 }, ~0 y: F) B+ G MR. RAMIREZ: Hmm. But we would meet every two weeks.
" Q/ _" _. B/ q1 M ARNOLD: I really think it would work. q7 w( r7 I' _; a/ G6 V
The meetings could be longer, and better organized.$ J# w i4 V3 ]+ Q2 m g. Y
MR. RAMIREZ: I am not against the idea, Arnold. i" i! P0 B% v H. J
It may really be more efficient, as you say. I'll tell you what we can do.
. h0 K# S9 t9 V2 A" P Why don't we try your proposal for a month, and see how it works.. k" l& T5 Y9 s) o b( a% c
ARNOLD: Excellent. I would be happy to get started on it.
4 Q. E+ Q. b+ ~$ i4 I MR. RAMIREZ: I will call the managers.7 x. a% T$ k# L% e9 g5 E& l" M
Then tomorrow I'll tell you when we can schedule our first meeting in this “new style.” |