Your organization may already be using Microsoft teams, but you may be new to it. Do not be overwhelmed. The service is user-friendly and secure, and settling in is a piece of cake. Here are a few tips for making the most of it:

Filter and Collaborate Better with Mention

Having a large team can clog up communication lines. Someone may have pinged you, but general messages have flooded the chat feed. Using the @mentions option in the filters drop-down menu in the Activity tab sieves through the “for everyone” and fetches messages specifically for you. This function could immensely decrease message repetition and improve correspondence turnaround time. 

The @mention feature puts the instant in instant messaging. There will be times when you have to do a task on which you can’t lose focus, but you somehow also need to message another team member at the same time. You don’t have to tab out of your current window and get side-tracked from your project with Microsoft Teams’ @mention. Type “@” in the search bar, and the list of team members would drop down, among other things. Click on the name and type your message, then press “Enter” to send. You communicate instantly with hardly any distractions.

Channel Management

One team member can belong to more than one chat group or channel at a time. And not all channels are created equal. Prioritize channels by “Favouriting” them. Click on the ellipses next to a channel name and select “Favourite”. Use this feature for extremely relevant channels. For channels that don’t quite require your round-the-clock attention, you can categorize them under “Follow this channel” in the options.

Avoid clutter by limiting the number of channels to which you belong. Try keeping communication at an “as needed” level.

Integrate Email

The “Get email address” channel option will create an Email address distinct to a particular channel. Use the generated address in Outlook to funnel in Emails relevant to the team members on that channel. Team members can read the Email directly in the chat feed and even download attachments. This can eliminate the potential of losing Emails essential to the project because of a member’s already swamped personal inbox.

Make the Call

As with most messaging services available now, Microsoft Teams have an on-board voice and video call function. Set up a conference or one-on-one call. This is recommended for issues that need instant and detailed clarification.

Command the App

Users can make use of commands as shortcuts for specific tasks. Type “/” in the command bar and a menu of commands would drop-down. For example, you can set your status as “available” by typing in “/available” without the quotes. You can even see another team member’s activity log. The commands you can use are entirely dependent on your organization. Team leaders may set clearance levels for particular commands.

Have Fun

Project chats don’t always have to be about charts and graphs and business. You can inject a bit of fun into your chat feeds.  Microsoft Teams allows the use of animated GIFs and stickers so you can better convey how you feel. Lift the team’s mood and make everyone chuckle every once in a while. Use them when appropriate, of course.

These features are but the tip of the iceberg that is Microsoft Teams. Use these tips to start yourself off and then explore other functions. Experiment and use the features that best benefit your work style.

Featured image from Pixabay.com

Create a Clear Job Description 

You want to make it abundantly clear what you are hoping to get out of your ideal candidate and the best way to do this is on the ground level: the job description. You should spell it out in plain English exactly what it is that you would like to get out of your prospective employee, whether this is in the kind of character they have, what their role will involve and how flexible they can be. This means that hopefully the people who will end up applying for a role with you will be more than suited for the task at hand. 

Do Your Research on Prospective Employees 

You need to make sure that those who you are considering hiring will not come with any further complications. This means that you should consider enlisting the help of an organization such as DataCheck Inc. who will be able to make sure that you are hiring with confidence by using customizable background checks. They will be able to screen your potential employees meaning that when you do take on a new hire you can do so feeling very secure about the decisions you make. 

Set Up a Friendly and Informative Interview 

Everyone can look impressive on paper but the way you are going to truly find out what your prospective employee is capable of will be by setting up an interview that is equal parts both informative and also friendly. 

The informative aspect is very important as it will give you an idea as to how that employee will be able to perform in a professional environment. Essentially, you will be able to gauge how effective your employee is going to be when it comes to actually doing their job. 

The friendly aspect is all about encouraging your employee to let their guard down. We all know that when we go into interviews we are on our best behavior and act in ways that aren’t a true reflection of our character. This will always be the case but if you create a much more relaxed environment then you will be encouraging the prospective employee to let their guard down and act more in a way that is true to themselves. This is important as you want anyone you hire to not only be good at doing their job but also be someone that you would enjoy working with. 

Conclusion 

Hiring new employees can be difficult but the above checklist is a good way to find out exactly how you can go through the hiring process in a way that will guarantee you results. 

Featured image from Pexels.com