Home Office (Part 4) – Teams alternate uses for communication

In the article I wrote named: Microsoft Teams – Overview on Communication I discussed some of the basic communication functions in the Teams Application. So if the communications is opened up for external connections then so much more becomes available to you than just communicating within your organization.

I also use Teams to communicate with some of my clients and key vendors. It allows me the same kinds of communication functions that I have with my company contacts and when you add the component of video to the conversation makes that session so much more personal.  

One of the features that really help out in a selling or training situation is to be able to share a desktop with the person you are chatting with in Teams. It is so easy to do so. The best part is that you are in complete control of what you are going to share, whether it is a window, a monitor screen or multiple screens you have all of these capabilities. I do this a lot with our techs in house to show them how to do something or where to go to look for something or just to get their opinion on something (in case I need their tech support). All of these things are possible with anyone that you are working with.

You can also use Teams to create an online webinar with people both inside and outside of your organization. There are no other purchases you need to make to make this happen. You can join a Teams meeting anytime, from any device, whether or not you have a Teams account.

If you don't have an account, follow these steps to join as a guest.

1. Go to the meeting invite and select Join Microsoft Teams Meeting.
2. A hyperlink with text reading "Join Microsoft Teams Meeting"
3. That'll open a web page, where you'll see two choices: Download the Windows app and Join on the web instead. If you join on the web, you can use either Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome. Your browser may ask if it's okay for Teams to use your mic and camera. Be sure to allow it so you'll be seen and heard in your meeting.
4. Enter your name and choose your audio and video settings. If the meeting room (or another device that's connected to the meeting) is nearby, choose Audio off to avoid disrupting. Select Phone audio if you want to listen to the meeting on your mobile phone.
5. When you're ready, hit Join now.
6. This will bring you into the meeting lobby. We'll notify the meeting organizer that you're there, and someone in the meeting can then admit you.

One of the things I like about Teams Video Chatting is the sense of connection. We have had several people in the past month that have been operating solely from their home office and the only time we get to see them is if we do so with a video chat session. We have one company employee that has been operating from his home in St. Louis area since he move there and is still fully operational with us in the office as well as with the clients he supports. Internally we work with him in Teams almost completely because of the sense of being able to reach and see the other person. This is important in a long term remote condition like this.

This is the end of my little series here on Office. I will be going back to talking more about other things that you can do with Teams to help you share information and become more productive.

I’ll be back soon!