MR. RAMIREZ: Come in, Arnold. Have a seat.
1 i, r8 H( W- v+ A ARNOLD: Good morning.4 H( t4 D# m# v
MR. RAMIREZ: Would you like something to drink?
% F7 v1 s7 x3 |7 o ARNOLD: No, thank you. I just had two cups of coffee at my desk.
# N3 d. t! |7 r/ z MR. RAMIREZ: So, you're a serious coffee drinker.
1 u( x( |# \9 g ARNOLD: Yes, it keeps me going. Sometimes I think I'm addicted.; }; @8 ~: v* l0 ?$ I4 V F
MR. RAMIREZ: Well, coffee isn't such a bad thing. w; y* T* l: ^2 Q& x$ U; a
Everyone has to have something.
* |+ I1 G* K. y0 c2 E For me, it's cigars. Are you a cigar smoker?
2 g) v! H' |: }7 z ARNOLD: No, I've tried them. But I’m not really a smoker.) Q& g) J% K, i4 I8 D- c3 Z2 ~
MR. RAMIREZ: Well, what would you like to talk to me about?
) x4 b; N, ` R& b$ S+ B ARNOLD: I wanted to set up this meeting with you to discuss a little proposal.
3 S0 X3 o; S" `- Z7 U. w& I$ `, o MR. RAMIREZ: I'm glad when people have new ideas around here. Tell me about it.
3 s* ]" [9 X: E, ~ S# p0 v ARNOLD: It is about the staff meetings.3 l" |7 w8 j+ `5 u2 ^6 O/ I7 d
You know how we have a staff meeting every Tuesday.
, }" }9 E( ]% ]2 c/ ]0 h MR. RAMIREZ: Yes.+ W9 H w" M$ _6 x& U& H
ARNOLD: Well, I have been thinking about it.& W( Q* E1 \3 w: t$ b# v
And I believe we could do things more efficiently here., s! h' a6 y2 o" ~+ q
MR. RAMIREZ: What do you suggest?# L8 x) `% p" [+ T
ARNOLD: The way it is now, the staff from all four branches get together once a week.
) l3 a0 P9 Q% C9 S6 P$ d# N We meet for one hour. But I think a lot of time is wasted in transportation." |% U. W" F9 [- b# r
MR. RAMIREZ: You mean because people have to go across town to get here.8 Q4 g0 J; }% W' N q* ?
ARNOLD: Yes. Some people spend half of the morning on the road.
! v- H0 m) U5 n. w MR. RAMIREZ: That's true. But our staff meetings are very important, Arnold.9 `) u$ P* C% t, z! W& E# h: v5 W
I don't know how we can function without them.( B* |1 I1 r G$ D
ARNOLD: I think they are important too." w2 P- Q. t3 x& Z$ K
That's why I want people to have a better attitude about them.
+ }' s, z d3 V/ L, _5 ]( s. o% I MR. RAMIREZ: I know a lot of people think the meetings aren't too useful.
9 l/ [2 o/ ~2 k. |8 B; e& \ I'm aware of that.
^+ Q" K8 N* I* w% G% f$ B# f/ K ARNOLD: Here's what I propose.
8 M& c: S- ~3 w I think we should meet once every two weeks, but meet for ninety minutes or more.- r ?) Y$ b- b
MR. RAMIREZ: Well.) P# Q& f' G" q% u J
ARNOLD: I also think the meetings should be more focused.1 P# g! S: ^. |1 K6 j' b; p" u
And I would be willing to take responsibility for that.9 x# |/ C) I$ x, A
MR. RAMIREZ: You mean you want to run the meetings?
i4 c4 a. \. c- v8 h7 c9 ` ARNOLD: No, not really run them. But I could help organize them.
8 q! |* a4 D3 g) p i. X I could discuss meeting topics with you, and then prepare a schedule for each meeting.( `5 L" t, o2 B/ Y0 I6 \$ k
I could then send an e-mail to all the staff to explain the coming meeting.3 |' p% k9 F# Y
This way the meetings would become more focused, and people would prepare better.
8 d% E7 Q, V5 F2 ` MR. RAMIREZ: Hmm. But we would meet every two weeks.
; G1 ?! S% u9 ?/ W, U) _. e2 b; j ARNOLD: I really think it would work.
: _7 c2 E, a% y! L4 h The meetings could be longer, and better organized.
( D) k4 G$ M/ D. q0 \ MR. RAMIREZ: I am not against the idea, Arnold.
8 R- s3 e& q; R) B: y It may really be more efficient, as you say. I'll tell you what we can do.5 f/ e d K: v, p6 h) ]
Why don't we try your proposal for a month, and see how it works.
1 }9 R6 Q( c$ \0 a ARNOLD: Excellent. I would be happy to get started on it.
8 O* Q1 Y& }1 L' [) O6 Z, C MR. RAMIREZ: I will call the managers.; p+ g, [4 Y1 ]" j: P. z
Then tomorrow I'll tell you when we can schedule our first meeting in this “new style |