The front office/help desk is a place where the relentless ringing of the phone can slowly drive a perfectly sane, patient and skilled help desk operator into a frazzled shell of their former self. In a world where the ubiquitous telephone plays such an important role in the customer service that an organization provides, it is worthwhile to review a few of the basics when it comes to using the phone, especially from the perspective of the front/help desk officer.