Feature Request: Custom Status Labels for Calendar Events (e.g., 'In a Training')
Hey Teams Community! đ I have a small but impactful feature idea and would love your votes and feedback. --- đ´ The Problem Right now, every calendar block in Microsoft Teams shows the same status to colleagues: "In a Meeting." Whether you're in a 10-minute standup or a 3-hour mandatory training â it all looks identical. This creates ambiguity, leads to unnecessary interruptions, and doesn't reflect how modern workplaces actually function. --- đĄ The Feature Request Allow users to assign a custom status label to a calendar event when creating it â visible to colleagues who check availability â without exposing private event details. Something as simple as a dropdown when creating an event: â In a Meeting (default) đ In a Training đŻ Focus Time đ In a Workshop The chosen label would appear: â In the chat status indicator â On the calendar availability hover card â When someone tries to @mention or call you --- â Why This Matters - Reduces interruptions during high-focus or learning sessions - Helps colleagues make smarter decisions about whether to wait or escalate - Especially valuable for schools, hospitals, training teams, and L&D departments - Lightweight to implement â no privacy concerns since it doesn't reveal event titles --- đłď¸ If you've ever been interrupted during a training because someone thought you were just "in a meeting" â please upvote and share your experience below! Let's get this on the Teams roadmap. đ Tags: Feature Request, Calendar, Status, Availability, Training, Teams, Microsoft TeamsMicrosoft Teams Consecutive Interpretation Explained (NEW Copilot Feature for Multilingual Meetings)
đ New in Microsoft Teams: Consecutive Interpretation (powered by Copilot) Microsoft Teams just introduced consecutive interpretation, a new way to run multilingual meetings that feels far more natural than real-time translation. đ§ Instead of translating while someone is speaking, Teams now: Lets one person speak Translates after they finish Enables real, turnâbyâturn conversation In my latest video, I explain: ⢠What consecutive interpretation is How it differs from real-time (simultaneous) interpretation When to use one vs the other Why this matters for international teams đ Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/u-fH_00nFuU #MicrosoftTeams #Microsoft365 #Copilot #AIatWork #MultilingualMeetings #FutureOfWorkTransforming Microsoft Teams into a Project Management Hub
If you use Microsoft Teams only for chats and meetings, youâre missing much of what it can actually do. While Microsoft Teams is often seen as a communication tool, it can also function as a central workspace for managing projects - from planning and brainstorming to execution and documentation - all in one place. When combined with tools like Microsoft Planner, SharePoint, and Microsoft Loop, Teams can become a practical project management hub that keeps work organized and reduces the need to switch between systems. This article walks through a clear, practical approach to setting up and using Teams for real-world project delivery. Why Use Microsoft Teams for Project Management? Organizations often hesitate to introduce new tools due to cost, training effort, or resistance to change. Microsoft Teams offers a strong advantage: it is already widely adopted in many organizations as part of Microsoft 365. Using Teams for project management allows you to: Centralize communication and documentation Reduce tool fragmentation Improve team visibility and collaboration Leverage existing infrastructure without additional cost Instead of switching between multiple platforms, teams can manage conversations, files, tasks, and workflows in one place. Structuring Your Project in Teams A well-structured Team is the foundation of successful project management. Create a Dedicated Team Start by creating a Team specifically for your project. Avoid mixing multiple projects in one Team, as it leads to confusion and poor organization. Recommended channels structure: General (announcements and overview) Planning (timelines, scope, requirements) Execution (daily work discussions) Risks and Issues Documentation Onboarding Lessons Learned This structure ensures clarity and separates strategic discussions from operational ones. Managing Tasks with Planner Task management is a critical part of any project. Inside Microsoft Teams, you can add a Planner tab to manage tasks visually within the same workspace where communication and files are stored. How to use Planner effectively: Create buckets (e.g., To Do, In Progress, Completed, or structured by topic) Assign tasks to team members for clear ownership Set due dates and priorities Attach files and add comments directly to tasks Use labels to categorize work (e.g., Design, Frontend, Backend, Testing) for better filtering and tracking Planner also provides multiple views beyond the basic board: Board view (Kanban-style) for workflow tracking Charts view for progress and workload overview Schedule (Calendar) view to track deadlines visually across time This combination allows teams to switch between operational tracking and higher-level planning depending on the need. This visual approach improves accountability, transparency, and makes task tracking easier even for non-technical users. Document Management with SharePoint Every Team in Microsoft Teams is backed by a SharePoint site. This means all files shared in Teams are stored and managed through SharePoint. Using SharePoint effectively allows you to: Structured storage of project documentation through folders and metadata Maintain version control Role-based access management Centralized file organization Control access permissions Enable real-time collaboration Best practices: Create clear folder & metadata structures (e.g., Contracts, Designs, Reports) Avoid duplicate files Use naming conventions Instead of sending documents via email, teams can collaborate directly within Teams, ensuring everyone works on the latest version. SharePoint Lists in Microsoft Teams SharePoint Lists in Microsoft Teams provide a structured way to store, manage, and track information directly within the collaboration workspace. A SharePoint List is essentially a flexible data table, where each item represents a record with defined fields (such as status, owner, due date, priority, or category). They are especially useful for: Project roadmaps and milestone tracking Action item tracking with ownership and status Checklists for delivery and execution steps Simple status registers and progress tracking Unlike free-form messages or documents, SharePoint Lists keep information structured, filterable, and easy to update, which makes them suitable for ongoing tracking and reporting. When used inside Microsoft Teams, Lists help teams move from discussion to execution by turning decisions into trackable items with clear ownership, status, and visibility. Embedding SharePoint Pages in Teams Beyond file storage, Microsoft 365 allows SharePoint pages to be embedded as tabs within Teams, making key project information easily accessible in one place. SharePoint pages can be added as tabs inside Microsoft Teams channels, providing structured and persistent access to key project information without leaving the collaboration space. In practice, organizations often use SharePoint pages for: Project home page with key links and overview Governance page with rules and standards Onboarding page for new team members Documentation hub for core resources Centralized knowledge hubs This helps ensure that essential information is not scattered across chats or files, but is instead organized and always available within the project workspace. SharePoint is better suited for structured, stable, and long-term information. Microsoft Loop for Real-Time Collaboration Microsoft Loop introduces a more dynamic layer of collaboration inside Microsoft Teams, designed for fast, interactive work where content is continuously evolving. Loop components (such as notes, tables, task lists, and meeting agendas) can be embedded directly into Teams conversations and edited in real time by all participants. It is especially useful for: Live meeting notes Quick decision-making and feedback collection (including simple polls or inputs) 1:1 discussions and follow-ups Brainstorming sessions and idea capture Shared task tracking during discussions In practice, teams can collaborate on meeting notes or brainstorming pages during calls, with updates visible instantly to everyone. This removes the need to switch between documents or wait for post-meeting summaries. Unlike structured tools like SharePoint, Loop is designed for fluid, real-time collaboration, where information is shaped and refined as the discussion happens. Automating Workflows with Power Automate Manual processes can slow down project execution. With Power Automate, you can streamline repetitive tasks. Common automation examples: Notify the team when a task is completed Send reminders for upcoming deadlines Automatically save email attachments to SharePoint Trigger approval workflows Example scenario: When a task in Planner is marked as âCompleted,â a notification is sent to the project manager and logged in a tracking list. This reduces manual follow-ups and improves efficiency. Power BI Dashboards Power BI can be integrated into Teams as a tab, allowing teams to access real-time reporting directly within their project workspace. It is commonly used for: Project status dashboards KPI and performance tracking Resource and workload visibility Financial or delivery reporting Instead of switching to a separate reporting tool, teams can monitor progress and insights directly inside Teams, ensuring better visibility and faster decision-making. Microsoft Whiteboard Microsoft Whiteboard provides a visual collaboration space for real-time ideation and planning. It is especially useful for: Brainstorming sessions Process mapping and flow design Workshop facilitation Visual planning during meetings Whiteboard supports freehand drawing, sticky notes, and structured diagrams, making it effective for capturing ideas during live discussions and workshops. Integration with Other Tools (Microsoft & Third-Party) Microsoft Teams can be extended with a wide range of Microsoft 365 services and external applications, allowing it to function as a central hub for project work, reporting, and collaboration. Teams also supports many external tools, allowing organizations to align existing systems without fully replacing them. Common examples include: Jira â agile project and issue tracking Trello â lightweight task and board management ServiceNow â IT service management workflows GitHub â development and repository tracking Salesforce â CRM data and customer-related workflows Communication and Collaboration Effective communication is essential for project success. Microsoft Teams provides multiple ways to facilitate this: Channel Conversations Keep discussions organized by topic instead of using scattered chats. Meetings and Calls Schedule regular check-ins, sprint reviews, or stakeholder updates directly within Teams. Mentions and Tags Use @mentions to notify specific team members and ensure accountability. Practical Use Case Consider a company implementing a new internal intranet. Using Microsoft Teams: A Team is created for the project Planner tracks tasks such as design, content migration, and testing SharePoint stores documents and site assets Power Automate sends reminders for deadlines Teams meetings are used for weekly progress reviews This setup enables the team to manage the entire project lifecycle without introducing additional tools. Best Practices for Success To maximize the effectiveness of Microsoft Teams for project management: Keep your structure simple and consistent Avoid creating too many channels Encourage team members to use channel conversations instead of private chats Regularly review and clean up tasks Use automation where it adds clear value Adoption is just as important as functionality. A well-designed system only works if the team actively uses it. Limitations to Consider While Microsoft Teams is powerful, it has limitations: Not suitable for highly complex project scheduling Limited dependency management compared to dedicated PM tools Reporting capabilities are basic without Power BI For large-scale or highly regulated projects, a dedicated project management tool may still be required. Professional Context and Applied Perspective The approach described in this article reflects practical experience in designing and implementing collaboration environments using Microsoft Teams within real organizational settings. It is based on applied use of integrated Microsoft 365 capabilities, including SharePoint, Microsoft Planner, and Microsoft Loop, to support structured project execution and improve cross-functional collaboration. Rather than relying on isolated tools, this approach focuses on designing a unified digital workspace that aligns communication, task management, documentation, and automation within a single environment. Microsoft Teams is more than just a communication platform. When used strategically, it becomes a practical and efficient tool for managing projects. By combining Teams with Planner, SharePoint, and Power Automate, organizations can create a unified workspace that supports collaboration, task management, and process automation. For teams looking to simplify their toolset while maintaining productivity, Microsoft Teams offers a compelling solution for modern project management.Transforming Microsoft Teams into a Project Management Hub
If you use Microsoft Teams only for chats and meetings, youâre missing much of what it can actually do. While Microsoft Teams is often seen as a communication tool, it can also function as a central workspace for managing projects - from planning and brainstorming to execution and documentation - all in one place. When combined with tools like Microsoft Planner, SharePoint, and Microsoft Loop, Teams can become a practical project management hub that keeps work organized and reduces the need to switch between systems. This article walks through a clear, practical approach to setting up and using Teams for real-world project delivery. Why Use Microsoft Teams for Project Management? Organizations often hesitate to introduce new tools due to cost, training effort, or resistance to change. Microsoft Teams offers a strong advantage: it is already widely adopted in many organizations as part of Microsoft 365. Using Teams for project management allows you to: Centralize communication and documentation Reduce tool fragmentation Improve team visibility and collaboration Leverage existing infrastructure without additional cost Instead of switching between multiple platforms, teams can manage conversations, files, tasks, and workflows in one place. Structuring Your Project in Teams A well-structured Team is the foundation of successful project management. Create a Dedicated Team Start by creating a Team specifically for your project. Avoid mixing multiple projects in one Team, as it leads to confusion and poor organization. Recommended channels structure: General (announcements and overview) Planning (timelines, scope, requirements) Execution (daily work discussions) Risks and Issues Documentation Onboarding Lessons Learned This structure ensures clarity and separates strategic discussions from operational ones.
## Advanced Copilot Prompt for HighâFidelity Teams Meeting Analysis (v1.5)
## Advanced Copilot Prompt for HighâFidelity Teams Meeting Analysis (v1.5) Iâve been working on a structured Copilot prompt designed to dramatically improve the quality of meeting analysis inside **Microsoft Teams**, especially when the default Intelligent Recap doesnât capture enough nuance, decisions, or actionable followâups. This prompt produces a detailed, repeatable output that includes: - TL;DR executive summary - Meeting quality assessment - Prioritized action items table - Confirmed vs. tentative decisions - Open questions & risks - Mindâmap style outline - Timeline of key moments - Confidence & source citations - Tech jargon glossary - Plannerâready task export Itâs now at **version 1.5**, and Iâm sharing it publicly for anyone who wants deeper meeting insights or more reliable task handoff into Planner. --- ### Why I Built This In many engineering, security, and crossâfunctional meetings, clarity is everything. The default recap is helpful, but sometimes too generic. I wanted something that: - Reduces ambiguity - Surfaces decisions clearly - Highlights risks and open questions - Produces actionable, Plannerâready tasks - Works consistently across different meeting types - Enforces strict inference rules to avoid hallucinations If your team relies heavily on Teams + Copilot, this can significantly improve meeting outcomes. --- ### Whatâs Included The full prompt includes: - Strict ordering rules - Antiâhallucination constraints - Fallback rules for missing data - TL;DR section - Speakerâlabeling rules - Timestamp restrictions - Bulletâlength limits - Planner task title constraints - Deduplication rules - Tone consistency - Signalâtoânoise filtering Iâve included the complete prompt below for anyone who wants to use or adapt it. --- ### How to Use It 1. Open the **Recap** tab of any Teams meeting with transcription enabled. 2. Click **Open Copilot**. 3. Paste the entire prompt into the Copilot compose box. 4. Wait for the structured output (usually 30â120 seconds). 5. Copy the Planner tasks section directly into Planner or Copilot for Planner. --- ### Looking for Feedback If you try this prompt, Iâd love to hear: - What worked well - What didnât - What youâd like added in v1.6 - Any edge cases or meeting types where it struggled Iâm planning to maintain this as a community resource, so suggestions are welcome. Thanks to everyone experimenting with Copilot in Teams â the creativity in this community is incredible. --- ### Full Prompt (v1.5) ````markdown ```markdown # ============================================================ # PROMPT NAME: Advanced Teams Meeting Analyst (Copilot Enhancement) # ============================================================ # Version: 1.5 # Author: Scott M # Last Updated: 2026-01-14 # # Goal: # Use Microsoft Copilot in Teams (Recap tab or live meeting) to generate a highly structured, # high-signal meeting analysis that goes far beyond the default Intelligent Recap output. # Produce executive summary with TL;DR, prioritized action items table, confirmed/tentative decisions, # risks/open questions, mind-map outline, timeline, quality assessment, confidence/sources, # tech jargon glossary, and Planner-ready task exportâall derived strictly from the transcript, # shared screens, chat, and attachments. # # Why This Is Superior to Default Teams/Copilot Processing: # - Default Recap: Basic chapters, highlights, simple tasks, attendanceâoften generic and misses nuance. # - This custom prompt: Forces strict inference rules (no hallucinations), adds confidence labeling, # decision status, risks section, mind-map structure, quality flags, source citations, # jargon glossary, and direct Planner integration for seamless task handoff. # Delivers scannable, professional-grade notes + actionable tasks for tech/engineering teams. # # Audience: # Microsoft 365 Copilot users in Teams-heavy environments who want deeper analysis # and direct bridge to Planner for follow-up execution. # # Non-Goals: # - This is NOT a replacement for legal/compliance-grade minutes. # - This is NOT verbatim transcription (use the native transcript for that). # - Relies on Teams transcription quality (enable Intelligent Speakers if available). # # Usage Instructions: # 1. Prerequisites: # - Ensure the meeting had transcription enabled (Meeting options â Record & transcribe â Allow transcription). # - For best speaker attribution: Enable Intelligent Speakers (if your org supports it) or have participants use their names clearly. # - Copilot license required (M365 Copilot or Teams Premium for full Recap features). # # 2. Post-Meeting (Recommended â Recap Tab): # - Go to the Teams meeting chat â Click the Recap tab (appears after meeting ends and processing finishes). # - Click Open Copilot (or the Copilot icon in the top-right of Recap). # - In the Copilot pane compose box, paste this ENTIRE prompt and press Enter/Send. # - Wait 30â120 seconds (longer for 60+ min meetings) for the full structured output. # # 3. During Live Meeting (Quick Catch-Up): # - While the meeting is active â Click the Copilot icon in the meeting controls. # - Paste the prompt (or a shortened version if time-sensitive) and ask for real-time summary/actions so far. # # 4. After Output Appears: # - Review the markdown sectionsâcopy any part (e.g., Action Items table, Planner tasks) directly. # - For Planner handoff: # - Copy the entire "10. Planner Integration" section. # - Open Planner (in Teams app or planner.microsoft.com). # - Option A: Manually create tasks by pasting titles/descriptions. # - Option B: In Planner's Copilot pane (if available): Paste the tasks list and say "Create these tasks in my [plan name] plan". # - Save/export: Copy full output to OneNote, Word, or email for sharing. # # 5. Refinement & Follow-Ups (Highly Recommended): # - In the same Copilot pane, type targeted follow-ups like: # - "Expand the Risks section with mitigation ideas" # - "Draft a professional follow-up email to attendees including the summary and action table" # - "Create these tasks in Planner plan 'Engineering Syncs'" # - "Explain [specific jargon term] in more detail" # - "Prioritize the action items by impact" # - Iterate until satisfiedâCopilot remembers context in the session. # # 6. Tips & Troubleshooting: # - If output is incomplete: Re-paste the prompt or say "Regenerate full analysis". # - Short meetings (<15 min): Output may be conciseâask for more detail if needed. # - No Recap tab? Ensure recording/transcription was on; wait 5â10 min post-meeting. # - Sensitive meetings: Redaction is automatic per rules, but double-check output. # # Changelog: # v1.0 - Initial release # v1.1 - Added confidence/sources + follow-up suggestions # v1.2 - Added Tech Jargon Glossary # v1.3 - Added Planner Integration section # v1.4 - Expanded Usage Instructions into detailed, step-by-step guide with prerequisites, live/post options, refinement examples, and troubleshooting # v1.5 - Added strict ordering rules, anti-hallucination constraints, fallback rules for missing data, TL;DR section, speaker-labeling rules, timestamp restrictions, bullet-length limits, Planner title constraints, deduplication rules, tone consistency, and signal-to-noise filtering # # ============================================================ # CRITICAL INSTRUCTIONS (STRICT) # ============================================================ - Do NOT summarize, restate, or comment on this prompt. Produce only the meeting analysis. - Follow the numbered sections in the exact order shown. Do not omit, reorder, merge, or rename sections. - If any section lacks sufficient evidence, include the header and write: **âNo reliable data found.â** - Derive ALL content ONLY from the Teams transcript, shared content, chat, and attachments. - NEVER invent details. If unclear, mark as âUnclearâ or âTBD.â - Use neutral labels (Speaker A, Speaker B, etc.) if speaker names are not confidently identified. - Assign deterministic speaker labels based on first appearance. - Redact sensitive info as [REDACTED] and flag in Risks. - Include inline citations [Transcript HH:MM, Slide X] where possible. - Keep bullet points ⤠20 words unless quoting transcript evidence. - Exclude small talk, greetings, jokes, or irrelevant chatter unless they directly impact decisions or tasks. - Only include timestamps if explicitly present in the transcript. Never estimate or invent them. - Deduplicate action items, decisions, and risks before final output. - Maintain a professional, concise, cross-functional technical PM tone. - Planner task titles must be ⤠10 words and start with a verb. # ============================================================ # OUTPUT FORMAT (USE EXACTLY) # ============================================================ **TL;DR (1â2 sentences)** A concise, high-level summary of why the team met and what was resolved. --- 1. **Meeting Quality Assessment** - Clarity: [Good | Fair | Poor â brief explanation] - Speaker overlap / noise: [Low | Medium | High] - Estimated accuracy: [High | Medium | Low â justification] 2. **Executive Summary** Start with 1â2 sentence overview. Then provide 5â8 bullets covering: - Purpose - Attendees (names or count if unclear) - Key topics - Outcomes - Next steps 3. **Action Items** | Priority | Owner | Task Description | Due Date | Timestamp | Dependencies | Status | Notes | |----------|-------|------------------|----------|-----------|--------------|--------|-------| **Rules:** - Sort by Priority (High â Medium â Low), then Due Date. - Infer owners/dates ONLY if explicitly stated or clearly volunteered. - Default Priority: Medium; Status: Open. - Titles ⤠10 words, start with a verb. - Deduplicate similar tasks. 4. **Key Decisions** - **DECISION:** [What was decided] - Status: [Confirmed | Tentative | Disputed] - Confidence: [High/Medium/Low â reason] - Rationale: [Why] - Impacted: [Who] - Evidence: [Transcript HH:MM or Slide reference] 5. **Open Questions & Risks** **Open Questions** - [Unresolved or unclear items] **Risks** - [Ambiguity, missing owners, conflicting views, scope creep, technical risks, etc.] 6. **Mind Map Outline (Hierarchical Outline)** - Main Topic 1 - Subtopic A - Action / Decision / Fact - Subtopic B **Rules:** - Max 5 main topics - Max 3 levels deep - ⤠8 words per node - Prune low-signal branches 7. **Timeline of Key Moments** - HH:MM â [Brief one-line description] - HH:MM â [etc.] *Only include if timestamps exist; otherwise write âNo reliable data found.â* 8. **Confidence & Sources Summary** - Overall confidence: XX/100 - Key sources: [Transcript HH:MM, Slide X, Chat message, etc.] 9. **Tech Jargon Glossary** - TERM: Definition (1â2 sentences) *Include only if relevant terms appear.* 10. **Planner Integration: Ready-to-Create Tasks** Numbered list, each formatted as: 1. **Task Title:** [â¤10 words, verb-led] - Assigned to: [Owner or TBD] - Due: [Date or TBD] - Priority: [High/Medium/Low] - Description: [Brief details + dependencies/notes] - Labels/Buckets: [Suggested grouping] **Rules:** - Only include items with clear action/owner potential. - Group related tasks under consistent buckets. - Deduplicate tasks. --- **Follow-Up Prompts (suggest 3â5)** - âCreate these tasks in Planner plan âXâ.â - âExpand the Risks section with mitigation strategies.â - âDraft a follow-up email summarizing this meeting.â - âPrioritize action items by impact and urgency.â - âClarify ambiguous decisions and propose next steps.â
Restrict Users from Creating New Teams in Microsoft Teams
Hello together, I've do this here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/microsoft-365/solutions/manage-creation-of-groups?view=o365-worldwide#step-2-run-powershell-commands I create a group for users, that allowed to create new Teams Channels and run the script, but i didnt see in the updated settings the group ID: What im doing wrong? At the moment no one can create new Teams Channels, also the members of the GroupCreationAllowed Group. Can somebody help, whats the problem of the script is? Thx Peter
Continuous feedback in Teams without it getting lost in chat?
Our company is trying to move from annual reviews to continuous feedback. The idea is that managers and peers give quick feedback throughout the year and it all gets captured somewhere. Right now people just send feedback in Teams chat or email and it vanishes. By the time reviews come around nobody remembers what was said 6 months ago. Is there a structured way to give and receive feedback inside Teams that actually saves it and makes it retrievable later?
How do you handle employee recognition in Microsoft Teams without it feeling forced?
Hey community, Our HR team is trying to implement a point-based recognitions / incentive program (or rewards whatever you are all calling it in your companies). We are having a bit of trouble finding the right features inside MS Teams to do this. We really don't want this to live outside of Teams because you know how initiatives work in modern work: If people don't see it, they are going to forget about it in a month or two tops. Any recommendations?
