Microsoft Teams is a collaboration and communication tool at its core. Users are inside the platform continuously throughout the day doing work and checking it frequently. The default for all internal communications, file sharing and day to day working is Teams. We must work in the cloud by default – create new Office files within Teams rather than locally on your computer. Always share files within teams rather than emails.

Microsoft Teams changes our relationship with email. When our whole group is working in Teams, it means we’ll receive fewer emails. And we’ll spend less time in our inboxes, because we’ll use Teams for more of our conversations.

Email still has a important role to play in our office culture and can be used to supplement the internal communication you are having in Teams.

If communication must go outside the company or has the potential to go outside the company, use email.

You should also use email for formal communications to your manager or company leaders.

1. Use channels in Teams for day-to-day work on clients and internal HM work. This is your workspace and filing system. Working in this way keeps our projects organised and searchable.
2. Use chat in Teams for quick communications that do not necessarily require a full channel post. With these sorts of messages out of our inboxes, the volume and types of email activities we do have changed.
3. Use other communication methods as necessary – ie calls for multi-person, in depth discussions. WhatsApp for emergency communications when a user is out of the office.