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MR. RAMIREZ: Come in, Arnold. Have a seat.
ARNOLD: Good morning.
MR. RAMIREZ: Would you like something to drink?
ARNOLD: No, thank you. I just had two cups of coffee at my desk.
MR. RAMIREZ: So, you're a serious coffee drinker.
ARNOLD: Yes, it keeps me going. Sometimes I think I'm addicted.
MR. RAMIREZ: Well, coffee isn't such a bad thing.
Everyone has to have something.
For me, it's cigars. Are you a cigar smoker?
ARNOLD: No, I've tried them. But I'm not really a smoker.
MR. RAMIREZ: Well, what would you like to talk to me about?
ARNOLD: I wanted to set up this meeting with you to discuss a little proposal.
MR. RAMIREZ: I'm glad when people have new ideas around here. Tell me about it.
ARNOLD: It is about the staff meetings.
You know how we have a staff meeting every Tuesday.
MR. RAMIREZ: Yes.
ARNOLD: Well, I have been thinking about it.
And I believe we could do things more efficiently here.
MR. RAMIREZ: What do you suggest?
ARNOLD: The way it is now, the staff from all four branches get together once a week.
We meet for one hour. But I think a lot of time is wasted in transportation.
MR. RAMIREZ: You mean because people have to go across town to get here.
ARNOLD: Yes. Some people spend half of the morning on the road.
MR. RAMIREZ: That's true. But our staff meetings are very important, Arnold.
I don't know how we can function without them.
ARNOLD: I think they are important too.
That's why I want people to have a better attitude about them.
MR. RAMIREZ: I know a lot of people think the meetings aren't too useful.
I'm aware of that.
ARNOLD: Here's what I propose.
I think we should meet once every two weeks, but meet for ninety minutes or more.
MR. RAMIREZ: Well.
ARNOLD: I also think the meetings should be more focused.
And I would be willing to take responsibility for that.
MR. RAMIREZ: You mean you want to run the meetings?
ARNOLD: No, not really run them. But I could help organize them.
I could discuss meeting topics with you, and then prepare a schedule for each meeting.
I could then send an e-mail to all the staff to explain the coming meeting.
This way the meetings would become more focused, and people would prepare better.
MR. RAMIREZ: Hmm. But we would meet every two weeks.
ARNOLD: I really think it would work.
The meetings could be longer, and better organized.
MR. RAMIREZ: I am not against the idea, Arnold.
It may really be more efficient, as you say. I'll tell you what we can do.
Why don't we try your proposal for a month, and see how it works.
ARNOLD: Excellent. I would be happy to get started on it.
MR. RAMIREZ: I will call the managers.
Then tomorrow I'll tell you when we can schedule our first meeting in this "new style."
