This conversation is so redundant, and yet it happens so often:
*I ring John*
Someone else: "Hello, Johns phone?"
Me: "Can I speak to John please?"
Someone else: "Urrr, uhmm, urrr.. he used to be here, and now, uhmm, he's like, not around or something."
That person would have been more useful to me by not answering the phone. That way I get the same information, ie "John is currently located somewhere other than in front of his Telephone, or he hates you and is avoiding your call" but with the added bonus of not having to waste time with some clueless schmuck (I mean why the fuck do I have to state my desire to want to talk to John - I think I indicated it quite well by calling HIS phone), and possibly the ability to leave a message on his voicemail if he has one. Why are people in corporate environments compelled to answer other peoples phones?
So next time you go to answer someone elses phone, consider if you will really be adding any value to the process, and if not, just let it go through to voicemail, please?