Microsoft Teams Fundamentals

Intra-office chat systems like Slack and Microsoft Teams are a modern solution to the clutter of email inboxes and missed voicemails. Microsoft Teams, in particular, goes beyond basic chat functionality, offering features like phone calls, videoconferencing, document sharing, website chat integration, topic channels, and more.

Chat. After an introductory tour of Teams, we'll dive into its core feature: chat. For quick and effective communication, chatting with a colleague is often more efficient than sending an email. It's a more casual way to interact, allowing for the use of emojis and even memes. Sharing files through chat is also faster and more convenient than email attachments.

Calls and Videoconferences. When a conversation needs more depth, you can seamlessly transition from chat to a voice call or videoconference. We'll guide you on how to manage your contact list, start calls, initiate videoconferences, and share your screen. Similar to Zoom, Teams offers a variety of settings to enhance your videoconferencing experience.

Creating Teams and Channels. For larger organizations, it's essential to have global "channels" for company-wide communication and team-specific channels for departments or office branches. We'll teach you how to set up teams and create topic-specific channels to facilitate focused discussions among employees.

Outlook Integration. Rather than replacing email, Teams works best as a complement to Outlook, integrating seamlessly with calendars, meetings, and more. We'll show you how to use Teams and Outlook together to maximize productivity and streamline communication.

By leveraging these features, Microsoft Teams can significantly enhance your office communication and collaboration.