How to Manage Teams as an Owner in Microsoft Teams

Introduction 

Welcome to our Microsoft 365 Insights video! This video is designed to help team owners effectively manage their teams, memberships, and settings within Microsoft Teams. Whether you're new to being a team owner or looking to refine your skills, this guide will provide you with the essential steps and tips to ensure smooth team management.

Checking Your Ownership Status

The first step in managing your teams is to verify which teams you are an owner of. This is crucial because the actions covered in this video apply only to team owners, not members. To check your ownership status, navigate to the three dots in the chat window and select "Your teams and channels." This will display a list of all teams and channels you have access to, along with your role in each. As an owner, you can perform various ownership actions across these teams.

Managing Team Membership

One of the primary responsibilities of a team owner is managing team membership. Teams typically consist of a select group of members, often organised around a department, working group, or specific focus area. To manage membership, go to the team settings and view the list of members. You can add new members by typing their name or email, and adjust roles as needed. For instance, if an owner is unavailable, you can promote another member to owner to ensure continuity in managing the team.

Handling Channels and Membership

Teams in Microsoft Teams can have different types of channels, including standard, private, and shared channels. Private channels allow you to restrict access to specific members of the parent team, while shared channels enable you to invite people outside of the team. Managing membership at the channel level involves similar steps to managing team membership, ensuring that only the appropriate members have access to sensitive information.

Configuring Team Settings 

As a team owner, you have the ability to configure various settings to tailor the team's functionality. This includes setting a team picture, adjusting member permissions, and configuring guest permissions. It's recommended to restrict certain actions, such as creating private channels or deleting channels, to owners only. This helps maintain control and prevent accidental changes that could disrupt the team's workflow.

Archiving and Restoring Teams 

Keeping your teams and channels tidy is essential for efficient management. When a project concludes, you may want to archive the team to prevent further communication and lock the documents as they were at the project's closure. Archiving a team moves it out of view, stops new posts, and can set documents to read-only. If needed, you can easily restore an archived team, bringing it back to life and allowing full interaction once again.

Conclusion 

Managing teams as an owner in Microsoft Teams involves a range of responsibilities, from verifying ownership status and managing memberships to configuring settings and archiving teams. By following the steps outlined in this video, you can ensure effective team management and maintain a well-organised workspace. Thank you for watching, and we hope this guide helps you confidently manage your teams and channels in Microsoft Teams.