What to do with all these pin code - also called "conference code" -- options for your conference calls? If you have ever used a decent conference call service, you should be familiar with the pin codes used to identify which conference you want to join, but also identify you as someone who should be in that call. Each conference call, or room, has at least two codes: a moderator code and a participant code. At the most basic level, a simple no-frills call, these codes could be interchangeable. You can have as many moderators or participants - all using the same codes - as you want. You just have to have one of each.

The major difference between the two kinds of codes is that moderator codes have all the power. They can mute or kick whomever they want, they control the Q&A queue, they turn lecture mode on and off, and they can end the call whenever they wish. Participant codes are just that: they participate and that's it.

Other than their attributed roles, there are so many other things you can do with your pin codes. You can create more codes and not just by creating more conference rooms. You can have as many codes as you like for one conference. A code for everyone and everyone gets a code! You can even label them, make them personal, and always know who is in your conference call. Well, at least whose code it is.

A preferred pin management method is to have a main, general purpose, conference call room with moderator and participant codes that don't change. Then you can have a special conference room whose codes you only give to a select group. On top of all that, you can have a super-select room with personal codes for your group of people that uses conference calling the most. Of course, there are always the temporary or one-time use conference call rooms with specific codes. These codes are not only good for that one conference call, but also only during the actual time of the conference call as well.

Options are important in almost any product or service you use, and a good conference call provider will give you many conference call pin code options. Not only will this make it easier to fully utilize your conference call service, but can give you a cushion against getting trapped in only one way to have a conference call.

Some people have eidetic memory: they can recall almost everything they've ever seen or heard or read. A photographic memory as it's sometimes called. These special people could attend or host a conference call, remember everything that was said, and go on with their day. However, even these memory masters have a need for conference calls with a good recording feature.

One obvious reason for any conference call to be recorded is to know exactly what was said, in what order, and who said it. If this was the only reason to use recording then the eidetic memory folk would have no need for it. So what possible use could they have for conference call recording? The simplest reason is that everyone with a photographic memory knows that the majority of the human race doesn't share their perfect recall gift.

We can only imagine how many times one of them has had that annoying conversation where they have to convince someone with a fuzzy recall of actual events or conversations about what really transpired. So while a conference call recording will help most people know what was said, it will also help eidetic memory people help their people know what was said.

That's not the only reason they and the rest of the world would want to use recording. Getting away from the basic reason of sheer remembering, recordings can also be used to multi-task. While being recorded in a conference call, you could make sure to summarize at the end and specify task items for teams and individuals in your company. You can have your meeting be accessed for playback, or simply crop it down to the summary and upload it. Then you shoot an email to all involved letting them know that there is a recording available for call-in playback. They all call in individually, listen to your recording, know exactly what they are supposed to do, and you get on with your day.

Think of all the meetings, emails, conversations, questions, and misunderstandings you can avoid just by putting your exact words in a conference call recording. It's like a bit of eidetic memory for us all.

I'll bet you like your job. Come on, you know you do. That doesn't mean it's the best job out there. I just mean you're ok with it. The pay gets you by. (We all want more. Don't we?) The work is steady, maybe more than steady. With all its imperfections, it works for you. If left to your own devices, you can be happy there. Then why does everyone around you seem to be unhappy?

I have my own theory on this. People love to complain. People have a basic need to pick on the little things that nag them. In an office environment, little issues have a way of escalating into bigger issues. One person complains and that inspires others to join in. Before long, the once peaceful work atmosphere is disrupted, tumultuous, and uncomfortable. It's easy to get caught up in it, because it seems to feed on itself. Personalities clash. Jealousy creates bad feelings and soon, you begin to hate your job. A workplace that seemed to offer you so much potential has now been reduced to drudgery.

It doesn't have to be this way. The balancing act is keeping yourself involved in the daily workings while keeping your mind free of the baggage that builds up by getting sucked into the politics and mental sludge that accumulates over time. If you have some of these nagging issues, do something about them. Change them. Take an active role in improving your situation. Making the change not only makes it better for you, but maybe you'll make a difference for everyone.

The flipside is to do nothing. In this case, you need to be willing to accept it for what it is and be willing to be happy in spite of it. Don't just let your feelings stand in the way, keeping the issue in the front of your mind. Consciously make the decision to accept it, and put it to bed. It's out of your hands anyway or maybe it's not really as important as you once thought. Certainly, it's not important enough to ruin the good thing at your job.

People watch each other and when those who complain notice you seem to have a pretty good thing going; perhaps they'll take a look and see they do, too. There will always be complainers. Some people just have to moan and groan. You don't have to be one of them. You have a big part to play in the happiness you get from your job. Take control.

When you think of conference calls, what comes to the front of your mind? Probably a telephone call to a virtual room of sorts where you can interact with the disembodied voices of your coworkers, clients, or friends, which is pretty much what a conference call is. Millions of people use conference calls this way because it's straight forward, simple, and effective. How can we build upon this good foundation?

Now, say we have two people discussing important things. Normally, this would take place over a telephone call and normally this works fine. What if you came across a point in the conversation that required the input of someone else? Normally, you would put your conversation on hold and call the other person, send them an email, or send for them. The flow of the meeting is broken and time is wasted.

Let's look at that virtual room again. If it was a real room, there would be you of course, and there would be the other person. Now, if you need that third person's input, you get them into the room. In a real room, you might even speakerphone their voice and have a real/virtual conference. However you do it, you bring them into your meeting.

Outside the box thinking here, but what if you began your two person conversation with a conference call rather than a telephone call? When you encountered the need for the third person's input, you could simply out-dial their number and bring them into the virtual room. What happens then once the three of you have come up with a game plan? It would probably need to be disseminated to the people it effects. Instead of sending out an email for a future meeting, you could invite them into the conference call. That way, they will be able to receive their instructions by the architects of the plan that are, incidentally, right there to answer questions and make changes while the plan is still fresh in their minds.

While that may seem a bit more complicated than usual, think of how a situation like that usually goes: so much time wasted, compounded by numerous opportunities for miscommunications.