Microsoft Teams has become an indispensable tool for collaboration and communication within organizations. Whether you are working on a project with a large team or just managing your daily tasks.

Teams offers a wide range of features that can make your work more efficient. In this article, we share some advanced tips and tricks for getting the most out of Microsoft Teams.

Optimize your channels for better organization

Channels within Teams help you organize conversations and files around specific projects or topics. Here are some ways to best use your channels:

• Use closed channels: For sensitive projects or confidential information, you can create closed channels that only selected team members can access.
• Pin important channels: Pin your most-used channels at the top of your list for quick access.

Improve your communication with @mentions and tags

Using @mentions and tags can help you communicate more efficiently:

• @mentions: Use @team or @channel to attract the attention of all members. Use @person to tag specific individuals.
• Tags: create custom tags for groups of people, such as "project managers" or "marketing team," to quickly send messages to relevant groups.

Use keyboard shortcuts for faster navigation

Hotkeys can significantly increase your productivity by helping you navigate Teams faster:

• Common keyboard shortcuts: Ctrl + E to go to the search bar, Ctrl + / to view keyboard shortcuts, Ctrl + Shift + M to mute your microphone.
• Message shortcuts: Ctrl + N to start a new call, Ctrl + Enter to send a message.

Integrate Teams with other Microsoft 365 apps

Get more out of Micrsoft Teams by connecting it with other apps. Teams can be integrated with other Microsoft 365 apps for a seamless work experience.

• Planner: Add Planner tabs to your channels to manage tasks and projects without leaving Teams.
• OneNote: Keep minutes and share ideas with your team by integrating OneNote directly into Teams.
• SharePoint: Share and manage documents via SharePoint integration so that all team members have access to the latest versions.

Use the wiki for documentation and knowledge sharing

The wiki feature in Teams is ideal for documenting important information and sharing knowledge.

• Structure and organization: Organize your wiki with sections and pages for an organized layout.
• Accessibility: Make your wiki accessible to all team members so that everyone can easily find and add information.

Enhance Teams calls and meetings with advanced features

Teams offers several features to make your video conferences more productive:

• Backgrounds: Customize your background to minimize distractions or create a professional look.
• Recordings and transcripts: Record meetings and generate transcripts for later review and sharing with absent team members.
• Live subtitles: Use live subtitles for better accessibility and to reduce communication barriers.

Manage notifications to minimize distractions

Set notifications based on your personal preferences to ensure you receive notifications only for the things that really matter:

• Set Focus: Use focus settings to mute notifications during important work times.
• Channel and chat notifications: Customize notifications by channel or chat to reduce distractions and focus on your work.

Automate workflows with Power Automate

This tip is for the more advanced or advanced user of Teams: Teams integrates seamlessly with Power Automate, which allows you to automate repetitive tasks:

• Automatic notifications: Set notifications for specific activities, such as adding new files or updating tasks.
• Approval processes: Automate approval processes directly within Teams, saving time and streamlining workflow.