Create Polls & Surveys in Teams: A Step-by-Step Guide

In today's collaborative work environment, gathering feedback and opinions from your team is more important than ever. Microsoft Teams, a powerful communication and collaboration platform, offers an easy way to create polls and surveys to engage your team and gain valuable insights. Let's explore how you can create polls or surveys in Teams to boost engagement and productivity.

Before we dive into the steps, ensure you're using the latest version of Teams. The polling feature is available in the desktop and web versions, but not in the mobile app. Now, let's get started with creating your first poll or survey.

Creating a Poll in Teams

Polls are perfect for quick, multiple-choice questions where you want to gather opinions or make decisions. Here's how to create one:

First, click on the '+' icon next to the message box in any channel or chat. Select 'Poll' from the menu that appears. You'll see a new window where you can add your question and options.

Formulating Your Question

Be clear and concise when creating your question. Avoid ambiguity to ensure accurate responses. You can also add a due date for your poll to create a sense of urgency.

For example, you might ask: "Which project should we prioritize this quarter?" with options like "Project A", "Project B", or "Project C".

Setting Up Options

Provide a range of 2 to 20 options for your team members to choose from. You can also allow participants to add their own options, encouraging open-ended feedback.

To make your poll more engaging, consider adding GIFs, images, or emojis to your options. This can help increase participation and make the poll more fun.

Creating a Survey in Teams

Surveys are ideal for collecting more detailed feedback, with support for multiple question types and answer choices. Here's how to create one:

In the 'Apps' section of your Teams sidebar, search for and add the 'Forms' app. Once added, click on 'New Form' to create your survey. You'll be directed to the Microsoft Forms interface, where you can build your survey.

Designing Your Survey

Start by giving your survey a title and description. Then, add your questions using the various question types available, such as multiple-choice, rating scale, or open-ended.

For example, you might ask: "How satisfied are you with our recent team-building event?" using a rating scale, followed by an open-ended question: "What did you enjoy most about the event?"

Customizing Your Survey

Customize the theme, background, and font of your survey to match your team's branding. You can also set up reminders to encourage participation and set a deadline for responses.

To share your survey, click on 'Send' and choose the appropriate method, such as sending it directly to team members or sharing it in a channel.

Creating polls and surveys in Teams not only helps you gather valuable insights but also fosters engagement and collaboration within your team. So, go ahead and start creating polls and surveys to make informed decisions and improve your team's dynamics. Happy polling and surveying!