Teams Takeover - 💎 Kick Off Training: An Introduction To Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams clients receive frequent updates that add features users often overlook. Basic chat and calls work fine for most, but settings tweaks and client behaviors can save hours weekly. Many IT pros and power users run Teams daily without customizing notifications or status options.

In this hands-on introduction, Ben Stegink (Microsoft MVP for Microsoft 365 apps and services) demonstrates practical tips for everyday Teams usage. He focuses on the client experience, not administration, covering settings management, chat handling, and previews of the new Teams client. Expect walkthroughs of real features with opportunities for live questions.

What You Will Learn

• How to adjust chat density between comfy and compact modes to fit more conversations on smaller screens or laptops
• Setting up out of office auto-replies directly in Teams that sync with your Outlook calendar for chat-based communication
• Configuring Priority Access to let specific contacts bypass Do Not Disturb status without notifications
• Signing into multiple work accounts within the Teams client for easier account switching
• Using keyboard shortcuts like Control + Space to unmute quickly during meetings
• Opening new chats in separate windows or popping out existing chats to different screens
• Enabling third-party API access for tools like Stream Deck to control mute, camera, and other functions

Key Takeaways

1. Tweak settings under the three dots menu first. Ben shows how light or dark mode, chat density, and new window options live there, and accessing them reduces daily friction immediately.
2. Set Priority Access for key contacts. Add bosses or critical colleagues to bypass DND, ensuring important messages reach you while maintaining focus time.
3. Use out of office in Teams for chat-heavy teams. This feature syncs with Outlook and prevents missed communications in organizations shifting away from email.
4. Prepare for the new Teams client. Ben previews multi-account support and other changes, helping you transition smoothly without admin intervention.

About the Speaker

Ben Stegink is a relatively new Microsoft MVP in Microsoft 365 apps and services. He owns Intelligent, a consultancy helping organizations maximize Microsoft 365 and Azure with admin services. Ben co-hosts the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast, nearing six years and a million downloads, and shares insights via YouTube, newsletter, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Mastodon.

Who Should Watch This

This session suits Microsoft 365 users new to Teams or those using it superficially for chat and calls. You will gain value if you spend hours in Teams daily but have not explored settings like Priority Access or chat density. IT pros managing user adoption will find these client tips useful for training teams.

Skip if you already customize Teams deeply or focus on admin policies. The content stays at the user level, avoiding governance or deployment topics. However, Ben's previews of the new client may interest even advanced users planning upgrades.