Microsoft Teams—love it or hate it—has solidified its status as one of the go-to collaboration platforms in the business world. Whether you're remote, hybrid, or office-bound, Teams is where get-it-done activities happen. Sure, we've all mastered chatting, scheduling meetings, and sharing files. But guess what? Microsoft Teams hides a treasure trove of lesser-known features that can skyrocket your productivity and even make your meetings (gasp!) fun.
Here’s a deep dive into these hidden gems and how you can start wringing every drop of efficiency out of Teams.
If you're not digging into these gems, you’re leaving potential productivity—and fun—on the table. So why settle for basics when Teams has so much under its hood?
What’s your favorite hidden feature in Microsoft Teams? Think we missed one? Let us know in the comments. After all, just like Teams itself, this conversation doesn’t stop here!
Source: Guiding Tech Cool Hidden Features in Microsoft Teams
Here’s a deep dive into these hidden gems and how you can start wringing every drop of efficiency out of Teams.
1. Keyboard Shortcuts: Your Secret Weapon
Every experienced techie knows the power of keyboard shortcuts—they save time, minimize clicks, and just make you feel like a power user. Yet, even the savviest Teams users probably don’t know all the commands hidden in its arsenal.- Why They Matter: Teams shortcuts let you mute/unmute, schedule meetings, or jump between tabs in an instant without navigating endless menus.
- Top Shortcuts to Note:
- Ctrl + Shift + M = Mute/unmute yourself. Perfect for those noisy moments you didn’t anticipate.
- Alt + Shift + N = Quickly schedule a new meeting.
- Ctrl + 4 = Jump directly to the Files tab.
2. Slash Commands: The Slash Ninja
Slack who? Microsoft Teams leverages a similar shortcut system—just type/ into the search bar, and a list of game-changing commands unfolds at your fingertips.- Example Commands:
/busy: Instantly set your status to busy./files: View your recent files./call [contact name]: Directly place a call to a colleague right from the search bar.
/dnd. Boom. Productivity uninterrupted.3. Delivery Options: Cut Through the Noise
We all know modern inboxes and chats can feel like black holes where important messages go to die. Delivery options in Teams cut through the digital noise.- Urgent Mode: Gives the recipient recurring notifications every couple of minutes until they respond. Think of this as the "Hey, I really need you to look at this now" feature.
- How-To: While typing a message, click the + icon, choose "Set delivery options," and toggle to “Urgent” or “Important.”
4. Together Mode: Meetings with Personality
The typical grid view can get monotonous in long meetings. Enter Together Mode, an aesthetic feature that puts everyone’s video feed into a shared virtual space, like a lecture hall or café setting.- Why It Matters: Psychology suggests it makes meetings feel a bit more immersive, as if everyone is actually sitting in the same room—great for bonding during remote calls.
- How-To Activate:
- Ensure “New Meeting Experience” is enabled in your Teams settings.
- During a meeting, click the three dots in the top menu (beside "Share screen") and choose Together Mode.
5. Praise: Gamify Workplace Morale
Corporate buzzkill? Not exactly. The Praise feature adds a fun touch to recognizing good work, injecting a bit of gamification into your workplace culture.- How It Works: Send animated and colorful badges—like "Team Player" or "Creative Thinker"—to highlight teammates' contributions during meetings or over chat.
- Application: Aim for specific and public recognition. For instance, praising your project manager for her "Leadership" badge during a pivotal project could brighten her day while nudging others to emulate her work ethic.
6. Message Saving: Bookmark for Better Days
Ever had that one golden chat message—either instructions, feedback, or vital info—you need to refer to later? Don’t let it drown in the abyss of conversation history.- How to Save Messages:
- Click the three dots beside a message.
- Choose "Save this message."
- Access all saved items later by clicking your profile picture and selecting "Saved."
7. Approvals: Get the Green Light, Fast
We’ve all been stuck waiting for multiple layers of approval on work. The Approvals Add-On simplifies bureaucratic hoops with minimal effort.- Use Case: Teams can send approval requests to higher-ups who, in turn, can accept or reject them with a single click.
- How to Get Started:
- Install the Approvals app in Microsoft Teams.
- Submit approval requests with the necessary documentation directly via chat channels or private messages.
8. Copilot Transcriptions: Your Work-Life Hack
Lastly, the crown jewel might be Copilot, Microsoft’s AI assistant that’s built seamlessly into Teams. And one of its biggest perks? Automatic meeting transcription.- What it Does: Copilot transcribes the meeting as it’s happening. Forget manually jotting down notes—just focus on the conversation.
- How to Enable:
- Ensure transcription is toggled on in Teams settings before your meeting starts.
Why This Matters to You: A Final Thought
Whether you're navigating the remote work revolution, leading massive teams, or even just getting used to the platform, understanding these hidden features can refine your Microsoft Teams game. These tools are all about maintaining efficiency, fostering connection, and standing out in the wild west of online collaboration tools.If you're not digging into these gems, you’re leaving potential productivity—and fun—on the table. So why settle for basics when Teams has so much under its hood?
What’s your favorite hidden feature in Microsoft Teams? Think we missed one? Let us know in the comments. After all, just like Teams itself, this conversation doesn’t stop here!
Source: Guiding Tech Cool Hidden Features in Microsoft Teams
