If you talk on the phone quite a bit, balancing that receiver between chin and shoulder can be a real chore. Not only is it difficult to complete other tasks while on the phone, but it can also be, quite literally, a pain in the neck. Even if your phone use is sporadic, sloppy positioning can easily strain neck and shoulder muscles.

Yet few actually take advantage of a fairly inexpensive and simple solution: the phone headset. Headsets allow you to talk while keeping both hands free, giving you the mobility you need for writing, typing, or even drinking a cup of coffee.

This guide is designed to give you the facts you need to buy a phone headset for yourself or members of your staff. The various sections are listed in the box above. You can choose to read this guide from beginning to end, or jump directly to a section of interest.