How to Collaborate with Microsoft Teams

Nothing kills the mood in an office, like an announcement that there will be a meeting in 20 minutes in the conference room. Everyone inwardly groans as they mentally arrange the many tasks they plan to get done in the next hour or two. Instead, they'll sit around a table, bored, wondering why this couldn't have all been handled virtually.

If you're calling those meetings, it's important to know there's a better way. Collaboration tools are what all the cool bosses are using. But when you're part of the tech crew recommending solutions to those bosses, you can be a rock star by knowing as much as possible about each option.

One of the best collaboration solutions on the market today is Microsoft Teams, which works well with the popular Microsoft Office 365 solutions many businesses use.

But you don't have to go alone to it. This guide will help you learn more about using Microsoft Teams within your environment to keep all your end users happy, from the bosses to the entry-level employees.

What is Microsoft Teams?

Teams is Microsoft's collaboration solution, competing with the many other interoffice chat tools on the market today. For the many businesses that use Microsoft Office products, though, Teams is a natural choice due to its easy integration with tools they use daily. When employees can access Microsoft Teams, they can connect to discuss projects, review documents, and even view PowerPoint presentations directly within the app.

One of the most popular features of Microsoft Teams is its portability. Mobile access is essential, as so many professionals now conduct their work on the go. Microsoft Teams can be accessed on a desktop, laptop, or mobile device, providing the same experience across all platforms.

Employees can leave for an appointment and still check in with the team on the project process, keeping things moving instead of forcing everyone to wait for an answer. Best of all, Teams keep everything in one place, so employees can find the documents and communications necessary to work on a particular project at any time.

Usability Matters

The fact that Teams fits nicely into a Microsoft-based workspace is a bonus for systems administrators. Instead of struggling to help leaders make sense of various software incompatibilities, all of Microsoft's products are built directly into the platform. This collaboration means end users can easily share calendars, edit Microsoft documents, and launch meetings via video, audio, or text-based chat at any time.

Any IT pro knows that ease of use is essential for worker productivity and to avoid the constant need to train employees. One online course can introduce all the basics to ensure employees use the application fully. Because CBT Nuggets trainer Simon Millham offers a new course detailing Microsoft Teams, it can be shared with new employees as they join, eliminating the need to have someone provide dedicated on-site training regularly.

For administrators, setting up Teams is as simple as activating the feature in their admin center. From there, you can manage features and control access levels for your organization and its various team members.

Collaboration tools have become an essential part of the way businesses work. They save time and boost productivity dramatically. Microsoft Teams is a popular solution because it works well with the other work tools businesses use daily, eliminating the incompatibilities that can come with other software. Administrators also benefit because they can quickly deploy the solution from their admin center and manage everything in one place.