MR. RAMIREZ: Come in, Arnold. Have a seat./ K% _) H, D2 k5 o( ~, ?5 f0 h% p( y4 t
ARNOLD: Good morning.
; Y I7 d% Q+ ~ MR. RAMIREZ: Would you like something to drink?2 j. b) T# u8 U* G% o; g
ARNOLD: No, thank you. I just had two cups of coffee at my desk.
1 N8 t J0 b0 B- d MR. RAMIREZ: So, you're a serious coffee drinker.
! I( V2 n/ c! G" d4 X. a% i ARNOLD: Yes, it keeps me going. Sometimes I think I'm addicted.
, v% [+ W( M; s$ K$ b" w MR. RAMIREZ: Well, coffee isn't such a bad thing.5 Y! K6 R9 P, P2 U6 ?4 y
Everyone has to have something., p2 j+ }2 H8 T# ^
For me, it's cigars. Are you a cigar smoker?
$ r1 ^' o) ]4 Q ARNOLD: No, I've tried them. But I’m not really a smoker.
/ W7 m' A- Z+ t/ d! `) I5 l$ k5 ?8 U MR. RAMIREZ: Well, what would you like to talk to me about?! j8 k, n- i1 n6 n& C1 c' |. ]) ]
ARNOLD: I wanted to set up this meeting with you to discuss a little proposal.7 z6 `5 c' A9 Z% |
MR. RAMIREZ: I'm glad when people have new ideas around here. Tell me about it.
. P K4 {, }' B5 N+ f+ z; [ ARNOLD: It is about the staff meetings.
7 R7 i8 d1 ^/ C( {/ n0 Y' b+ B You know how we have a staff meeting every Tuesday.
+ k* @0 Q/ Y8 @( P/ V MR. RAMIREZ: Yes.
) }/ v* A5 t V7 n& B; b! q ARNOLD: Well, I have been thinking about it.% u' h% ]* a. I& A$ x: Y& W
And I believe we could do things more efficiently here.- q% q) m# T/ z2 u6 `
MR. RAMIREZ: What do you suggest?
6 q+ t2 b0 r; g ARNOLD: The way it is now, the staff from all four branches get together once a week., m* [( h1 I+ } V
We meet for one hour. But I think a lot of time is wasted in transportation.; z6 {7 {+ e3 ^, X0 V4 q' v
MR. RAMIREZ: You mean because people have to go across town to get here.$ }8 r( G$ d: e) M. }
ARNOLD: Yes. Some people spend half of the morning on the road.
7 V+ |. u% u8 t1 v! T MR. RAMIREZ: That's true. But our staff meetings are very important, Arnold.
) V. }: N; Z* g I don't know how we can function without them.
. X8 G3 M z' h ARNOLD: I think they are important too.
9 T# I" H* _' A/ Y6 K# W C That's why I want people to have a better attitude about them.
- w5 U7 l2 x- p& G) y5 e, Q MR. RAMIREZ: I know a lot of people think the meetings aren't too useful.
, M: ]4 L; f3 U; G I'm aware of that.
2 K' k2 O( w4 ~; J" ? ARNOLD: Here's what I propose.
/ {1 K* u" G" B, D4 M# H& h I think we should meet once every two weeks, but meet for ninety minutes or more.
0 O) t. v5 W8 y J3 y MR. RAMIREZ: Well.
* N' ^% \* ?' z1 H; g9 t1 S) s ARNOLD: I also think the meetings should be more focused.2 w, R& u P7 M' Q4 z4 S
And I would be willing to take responsibility for that.8 o7 ?9 n: d8 l8 n1 Q8 t$ j
MR. RAMIREZ: You mean you want to run the meetings?5 m4 W: a- a0 d, @6 w+ ?! g" {; ]
ARNOLD: No, not really run them. But I could help organize them.
) p" F) R7 I, E% k9 f) _; R9 ~/ y I could discuss meeting topics with you, and then prepare a schedule for each meeting.
" w* D- Q i0 `- P# P- v7 _# H, b I could then send an e-mail to all the staff to explain the coming meeting.
5 r8 { y: _ h8 c1 a This way the meetings would become more focused, and people would prepare better.) w; h% g2 O6 E
MR. RAMIREZ: Hmm. But we would meet every two weeks., l7 S; ?# M; r* \( a' g
ARNOLD: I really think it would work.4 @, ~5 b0 Z3 i! F- [
The meetings could be longer, and better organized.
9 R( o) v! ~3 ~8 u D3 q MR. RAMIREZ: I am not against the idea, Arnold.! s& f: v- |' W# p
It may really be more efficient, as you say. I'll tell you what we can do.
- M* T2 }9 T% S2 z5 k9 F8 G0 j Why don't we try your proposal for a month, and see how it works.; C# B/ z& l8 ?! w0 Z
ARNOLD: Excellent. I would be happy to get started on it.
7 c$ ^: D0 b6 w3 h, Q5 y8 } MR. RAMIREZ: I will call the managers.! f& Q! f1 s3 `" r' t2 T
Then tomorrow I'll tell you when we can schedule our first meeting in this “new style |