Microsoft Teams is brilliant… until it isn’t.
Yes, it’s the hub for collaboration, projects, chats, emojis, and the occasional panic‑inducing ping. But when your digital workplace starts feeling more like organised chaos, you need a few smart tricks to get the calm — and the productivity — back.
In Marc’s latest video, he walks through 12 features in Teams that actually make a difference to your day. Below is your tidy, human‑friendly summary.
If you want the full walkthrough (and let’s be honest, Marc’s soothing tech-expert vibe), the video is sitting right below this post waiting patiently for your click- make sure to subscribe to our Youtube channel for even more helpful tips and runthroughs
1. Get Notified When Someone’s Available
Need a colleague now, not in two hours when they reappear from the digital wilderness?
Use Notify When Available. Open their profile → three dots → notify me.
But — and this is important — use sparingly unless you enjoy being pinged into oblivion.
2. Use @mention Tags Instead of Spamming the Whole Team
Big teams + @channel = instant irritation.
Instead, create tags (e.g., Project Leads, Marketing, Crisis Team).
Only the relevant humans get notified. Everyone else stays blissfully unbothered.
A miracle.
3. The Shortcut Cheat Sheet (Ctrl + .)
Press Ctrl + . (Cmd + . on Mac) and Teams pops open a glorious list of every keyboard shortcut available.
A must for anyone who believes shaving three seconds off a task counts as a lifestyle choice.
4. Insert Emojis at Warp Speed
Hit : and start typing the name of your emoji.
:rocket for rocket.
:llap for the Vulcan salute if you’re a Trekkie like Marc.
(It is, admittedly, one of the coolest ones.)
5. Schedule a Message for Later
Got a brainwave at 10 p.m.? Great.
Want to look like a work‑life villain? Not so great.
Right‑click the Send button → choose your delivery time.
You look thoughtful and organised. Beautiful.
6. Scoped Search with Ctrl/Cmd + F
Teams search is powerful but overly enthusiastic.
If you want to search inside a single chat or channel, hit Ctrl + F.
You’ll get what you need without wading through digital archaeology.
7. Save Messages Like Bookmarks (It’s Back!)
It disappeared for a while, but it has returned triumphantly: Save this message.
Great for links, notes, ideas, articles — anything you want to revisit without building a task list the size of your mortgage.
8. Create a Task from Any Message
Sometimes “remember this later” isn’t enough.
Click More Options → Create Task.
It goes straight into To Do / Planner with the original message attached.
Perfect for action items hiding inside long chat threads.
9. Pin a Message for Everyone to See
Need something front and centre?
Pin it — it appears at the top of the chat or channel.
No more “Where’s the link again?” messages. Bliss.
10. See Who’s Read Your Message
For group chats with 20 people or fewer, you can view Read By info.
A polite alternative to “Did you actually see this?”
Click the three dots → Read by.
Instant clarity.
11. Pop-Out Chats and Apps
A multitasker’s dream.
Pop out a chat or an app like Planner into its own window.
Great for dual monitors, keeping Planner visible, or just preserving your sanity.
12. PowerPoint Live with Private Notes
Stop screen‑sharing the old-fashioned way.
Use PowerPoint Live in meetings:
- your audience sees the slides
- you get your notes privately
- everyone gets a smoother experience
Total game-changer.
Which One Will You Use First?
Marc’s video is full of genuinely helpful tricks, and these 12 are just the start.
Got a favourite Teams hack we missed? Add it in the comments on YT — it may just end up in Marc’s next video.
And if you’d like help making Teams, SharePoint, Copilot or the wider Microsoft 365 universe actually work for your business (instead of against it), the Iglu team is here to help. Get in touch with our team of experts here
Connecting People, Powering Possibilities.
One cleverly‑scheduled Teams message at a time…