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Microsoft Teams is a powerful productivity application. But it is only as helpful as how it is used by a working group.
As the Learning and Development lead at your company, you may see how training on Microsoft Teams can save employees time while igniting team synergy.
The need is there, but how do you devise a Microsoft Teams training that will translate to real-world improvements? How do you get your team to adopt the application and use it within their workflow to the greatest effect?
Below are four tips on devising a Teams training program that equates to measurable efficiency gains.
Learn More: Four Tips to Get Staff to Sign-Up for Employee Training and Apply Training Lessons On the Job
1. Setting Clear Microsoft Teams Usage Goals
Setting clear objectives around the usage of Teams provides employees with a focus on adopting the platform. Objectives should be SMART - specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and trackable - to accurately track progress and success.
Additionally, these objectives should align with broader organizational goals that are in keeping with the benefits of Teams - such as enhanced collaboration, improved communication and streamlined project management.
In seeing the value of Teams training and its connection to meeting group goals, employees are more likely to embrace the platform. In tracking successes, workers are also more likely to stick with program adoption.
2. Creating User Guides and Resources
Creating internal user guides and resources is a vital step in driving adoption and promoting effective use of Microsoft Teams. These materials act as valuable reference points for broad understanding, and for when the employee is uncertain about using the application in specific situations. The best user guides are not only well-structured and user-friendly but will cater to all user levels, from beginner to advanced. These guides should cover the gamut of topics, from setting up an account and navigating the interface to conducting meetings and integrating third-party apps. Some organizations may want to offer supplementary resources, such as video tutorials, infographics and FAQ documents.
Such a comprehensive and easily-accessible set of resources goes far in fostering a culture of learning and self-reliance, in addition of course to empowering the workforce to make the most of Microsoft Teams.
3. Application Training
Teams training is a vital component in driving adoption and fostering effective use of Microsoft Teams. Comprehensive training sessions ensure that employees have the knowledge and confidence to optimally use a program. Microsoft Teams training should cover all of the general aspects of the application - such as its interface, chat features, file sharing, scheduling and conducting meetings, and collaborating on projects. Instruction is most effective when tailored for the work group and their workflow. Tailoring the training to different user roles and specific use cases further ensures that everyone receives relevant information to perform their job using the application at the highest levels.
4. Integrating into Existing Workflows
Learning to use an application has its advantages, but applying learning to a group’s workflow and working needs increases the advantages of application usage exponentially. To achieve successful workflow integration, it is essential to identify pain points and inefficiencies in current workflows. Then, demonstrate Teams’ effectiveness in alleviating these roadblocks. Specificity is exceptionally important here.
Select challenges your team is encountering - preferably in each area Teams excels, including communications, collaboration, information-sharing and project management - and show how Teams can improve these situations.
Also, consider integrating Teams with other essential tools used within your working group. Microsoft Teams has integrations with popular productivity tools like Microsoft Office suite, project management software and customer relationship management (CRM) systems, to name a few.
In all, by providing Microsoft Teams training in the context of existing workflows, organizations can ensure that Teams becomes an indispensable part of their work ecosystem.
Did you know that Priority Management tailors all training to their client’s workflow? We work with you in advance of and during your training to provide information that is specifically relevant to your working style and goals. Learn more
Partnering with a Training Provider
Set your employees up for success by providing Teams training that is relevant to their daily work. Simply instructing on application features is not enough; they need context and goals to ensure full and appropriate application adoption.
In some cases, partnering with an outside training provider is the best way to achieve this. An experienced training partner, such as Priority Management, has the expertise to inspire maximum training benefits. Priority Management has been providing training for four decades to companies around the world. Our clients rely on us over and again to develop customized workplace training programs that help them meet productivity and growth goals.