Level 5 exam — Microsoft Teams & Outlook

Exam — fresh questions

14 questions to validate “Level 5 · Productivity & good practices”: the fundamentals, the trade-offs and Nassim’s cases.
Answer everything, then click Check: your score and explanations will appear.
The questions cover sections 5.1 to 5.5.
Objective: 80% before moving to the next level.

5.1 · Recall

1. How should we manage our day?

The calendar + the task list (To Do) The inbox The news feed The reactions

Reception is just a source of input to sort through; the calendar and To Do really drive the day.

5.2 · Application

2. What is the ONLY true deliverable from a meeting?

The recording Action report (who does what, by when) The attendance list The connection link

Without reporting of actions, the meeting evaporates. Before: calendar; during: hold the thread; after: actions.

5.3 · Application

3. Does a Teams message sent in the evening require an immediate response?

Yes, always Yes, within 5 minutes No: asynchronous implies that we respond at our own pace (right to disconnect) Only on Friday

Except in real emergencies, we respond at our own pace. Set your quiet hours and don't demand immediacy from others.

5.4 · Application

4. What mobile setting establishes the boundary of rest?

Permanent airplane mode Delete apps Turn off the phone Silent hours (evenings, weekends)

Silent hours cut off notifications of work outside of hours: the right to disconnect made concrete.

5.5 · Recall

5. What shortcut launches universal search in Teams AND Outlook?

Ctrl+S Ctrl+E Ctrl+P Alt+F4

Ctrl+E places the cursor in search: the #1 shortcut to docking — find anything without the mouse.

5.1 · Application

6. What do we remember from the “Organize your day (Outlook + Teams + To Do)” section?

No calendar = no meeting: each point has an objective (to inform/decide/collect). A message is asynchronous: we respond at our own pace, without requiring immediacy (except in a real emergency). Control from the calendar + To Do, never from reception (which is only a source of entries). The action report (who/what/when) is the ONLY true deliverable: without it, the meeting evaporates.

Section 5.1 emphasizes this point: Control from the calendar + To Do, never from reception (which is only a source of input).

5.2 · Application

7. What do we learn from the “Effective meetings on Teams” section?

Ctrl+E (search) in both apps: shortcut #1, dock first. The morning review (5 min) sets the course before the demands grab you. The Teams / command and Ctrl+. (list of shortcuts) open the keyboard control. Invite only those necessary: each unnecessary participant multiplies the cost.

Section 5.2 emphasizes this point: Invite only those necessary: each unnecessary participant multiplies the cost.

5.3 · Judgment

8. What do we learn from the “Collaborative etiquette & netiquette” section?

Conciseness and clear subject = respect for other people's reading time. Invite only those necessary: each unnecessary participant multiplies the cost. Ctrl+E (search) in both apps: shortcut #1, dock first. The morning review (5 min) sets the course before the demands grab you.

Section 5.3 emphasizes this point: Conciseness and clear subject matter = respect for other people's reading time.

5.4 · Application

9. What do we remember from the “Mobility: Teams & Outlook on smartphone” section?

Process messages in batches at fixed times: concentration does not survive constant interruptions. Netiquette only has SHARED value: a simple team charter is better than individual reminders. The right to disconnect is an issue of health AND sustainable productivity: resolve it, do not suffer from it. A few Outlook shortcuts (reply, forward, mail/calendar switch) are enough to speed up significantly.

Section 5.4 emphasizes this point: The right to disconnect is an issue of health AND sustainable productivity: regulate it, do not suffer from it.

5.5 · Judgment

10. What do we remember from the “Shortcuts & tips to go faster” section?

Invite only those necessary: each unnecessary participant multiplies the cost. The morning review (5 min) sets the course before the demands grab you. Targeted mobile notifications: mentions and meetings yes, background channel noise no. Ctrl+E (search) in both apps: shortcut #1, dock first.

Section 5.5 emphasizes this point: Ctrl+E (search) in both apps: shortcut #1, to dock first.

5.1 · Recall

11. What concrete action can you take to “Organize your day (Outlook + Teams + To Do)”?

This morning: open the calendar + To Do. Review your marked emails and tasks, slip 3-5 tasks into My Day: there’s your plan. In the Teams and Outlook mobile apps: limit notifications to what is strictly useful (mentions, meetings) — cut out background noise from channels. BEFORE: prepare an invitation with a 3-point calendar (each with its objective) and invite ONLY those necessary. AFTER: post the action report (who/what/when) in the channel or by email within the hour — as long as it's fresh.

The practice in section 5.1 begins with: This morning: open the calendar + To Do. Review your marked emails and tasks, slip 3-5 tasks into My Day: there’s your plan.

5.2 · Judgment

12. How to answer the question “How to reduce the number of meetings?”” ?

Any email marked with a tracking indicator (2.2) automatically appears in the “Marked Tasks” list in To Do. You manage your actions from emails in the same place as the rest of your tasks — a single list to consult. The best test before creating one: “could this be a message?”” (see 0.3). Many information or status points are handled asynchronously in a channel — reserve the meeting for what requires a real exchange. Go through the collective rule, not the individual criticism: “what if we agreed together on a normal response time and the use of notices? ". A team charter depersonalizes the subject and makes it constructive. In France, the right to disconnect governs this (company agreements, charter). Apart from formal and paid on-call obligations, permanent availability is not the norm. Regulate your silent hours consciously and refer to the charter.

The FAQ in section 5.2 answers: The best test before creating one: “Could this be a message?”” (see 0.3). Many information or status points are handled asynchronously in a channel — reserve the meeting for what requires a real exchange.

5.3 · Application

13. What concrete action should be taken for “collaborative etiquette & netiquette”?

In Teams, display the list of shortcuts with Ctrl+. and identify 3 useful for YOU; test the / command (e.g. /available to change status). In Outlook, practice Ctrl+R (reply), Ctrl+F (forward), and deferred sending (Options → Defer delivery) for an email to be sent tomorrow morning. Test the essentials on the go: join a Teams meeting from the mobile, consult a file — identify what is comfortable on the thumb and what will wait for the PC. Propose to your team a mini-charter (5 lines): channels and their use, “normal” response time, mentions policy, solicitation times.

The practice of section 5.3 begins with: Propose to your team a mini-charter (5 lines): channels and their use, “normal” response time, mentions policy, solicitation times.

5.4 · Judgment

14. How to answer the question “Can my employer require me to respond after hours?”” ?

Unless there is a defined restriction, no: asynchrony and the right to disconnect (5.4) imply this. Set your quiet hours, and if you write outside of hours for convenience, specify “no emergency, reply Monday” — so as not to create a wait. Real emergencies rarely come through an innocuous Teams message — they go through the call or an agreed-upon channel. You can allow exceptions (calls, priority contact). For everything else, asynchronous assumes: it will wait until tomorrow. In France, the right to disconnect governs this (company agreements, charter). Apart from formal and paid on-call obligations, permanent availability is not the norm. Regulate your silent hours consciously and refer to the charter. Any email marked with a tracking indicator (2.2) automatically appears in the “Marked Tasks” list in To Do. You manage your actions from emails in the same place as the rest of your tasks — a single list to consult.

The FAQ in section 5.4 answers: In France, the right to disconnect governs this (company agreements, charter). Apart from formal and paid on-call obligations, permanent availability is not the norm. Regulate your silent hours consciously and refer to the charter.

What's next?

Replay a full day of Nassim: Outlook, Teams, files and meeting.
Choose three habits to maintain starting tomorrow.

Back to the guideGuide contents