Teams Etiquette: Best Practices for Virtual Meetings
Microsoft Teams makes virtual meetings easy, but proper etiquette helps ensure productive and professional discussions. Follow these best practices to improve your Teams meeting experience.
📌 Before the Meeting: Preparation is Key
✔ Test Your Audio & Video – Ensure your microphone, speakers, and camera work before joining.
✔ Check Your Background – Use a professional setting or enable Background Blur in Teams.
✔ Join on Time – Arriving late can disrupt the discussion. Aim to join a few minutes early.
✔ Use a Stable Internet Connection – Connect to a wired network or a strong Wi-Fi signal to avoid lag.
✔ Have the Right Tools Ready – Open necessary files, presentations, or links before the meeting starts.
✅ Being prepared sets the stage for a smooth meeting!
📌 During the Meeting: Be Professional & Engaged
🎙 Mute When Not Speaking
- Click the Mute Button 🎙 when you’re not talking to reduce background noise.
- Unmute only when speaking to keep the meeting focused.
📹 Turn On Your Camera When Possible
- Facial expressions and body language improve engagement.
- If in a noisy or distracting environment, use a blurred or virtual background.
🙋 Use the Raise Hand Feature Before Speaking
- Click Raise Hand ✋ to signal that you want to talk.
- Wait for the host to call on you to avoid talking over others.
💬 Use the Chat for Questions & Comments
- Post questions or thoughts in the Chat 💬 instead of interrupting.
- Use @mentions (
@John) to direct a message to a specific person.
📤 Share Your Screen Only When Needed
- Click Share Screen (🔲) to present documents, slides, or files.
- Close personal or unrelated windows before sharing.
🗣 Speak Clearly & Concisely
- Keep your points brief and to the point.
- Pause occasionally to let others respond or ask questions.
✅ Engaging professionally makes meetings more effective!
📌 After the Meeting: Follow Up & Stay Organized
✔ Review Meeting Notes – Check the chat for important points or action items.
✔ Follow Up on Tasks – Complete any assigned action items from the meeting.
✔ Share the Recording (If Available) – If the meeting was recorded, share it for those who missed it.
✔ Provide Feedback – If necessary, offer suggestions to improve future meetings.
✅ A clear follow-up ensures meetings lead to action!
💡 Quick Tips for Better Virtual Meetings
✔ Join on time and be ready.
✔ Mute yourself when not speaking.
✔ Use video when possible.
✔ Engage with chat & reactions.
✔ Avoid multitasking – Stay focused.
✔ Keep meetings on track – Stick to the agenda.