Hey There! I'm Skits.
I work with Jerry over at SKTS — Shared Knowledge Technical Solutions. Today, I'm going to teach you Microsoft Teams. The whole thing. In about 10 minutes.
No jargon. No confusing steps. Just me, you, and a few clicks. That's all it takes.
But first — what's your name?
What You'll Walk Away Knowing
- What Teams actually is (spoiler: it's not scary)
- Whether you even need an account (maybe not!)
- How to join a meeting someone sends you
- How to set up your OWN meetings
- What all those buttons do once you're in a call
- How to fix the stuff that always goes wrong
What are you using today?
What IS Microsoft Teams?
Teams is just a video call app. That's it. Microsoft made it, it's free, and people use it for everything from doctor appointments to Sunday school to family reunions.
Think of it like FaceTime or Zoom, but made by Microsoft. If you've got a computer, a tablet, or a phone — you can use Teams.
Who Uses Teams?
- Doctors — for telehealth appointments
- Churches — for Bible studies and committee meetings
- Families — for keeping in touch across the country
- Businesses — for staff meetings and client calls
- Schools — for remote classes and parent conferences
If someone says "let me send you a Teams link," they're just saying "let's video chat." Nothing scary about that.
Do You Need an Account?
This is the question I get more than anything. So let me clear it up right now.
Just Joining Someone Else's Meeting?
NO account needed. Click the link. Type your name. Done. That's it.
Want to Host Your OWN Meetings?
You'll need a free account. Go to teams.microsoft.com and sign up. Takes about two minutes.
Setting up a new account? Make sure your password is solid. Our
Password Security 101 microcourse has you covered.
What Do the Different Plans Cost?
- Free — 60-minute meetings, up to 100 people. Perfect for most folks.
- Microsoft 365 Personal ($6.99/month) — longer meetings plus Word, Excel, and the rest of the Office apps.
- Business plans — if your workplace uses Office 365, you probably already have Teams included. Check with your IT person.
For most people, the free version is all you'll ever need. Don't let anyone talk you into paying for something you don't need.
Quiz 1: True or False — Account Myths
I hear these myths ALL the time from my clients. Let's bust 'em.
"You need a Microsoft account to JOIN someone else's Teams meeting."
"The free version of Teams lets you have meetings up to 60 minutes."
"Teams only works if you download the app."
"If your workplace uses Office 365, you probably already have Teams."