How I really feel about Teams
An Ode to Technology
How I really feel about Teams is easy to describe–panicked hysteria.
I struggle to find things on certain systems.
Or as someone I love dearly recently pointed out to me again (to my chagrin), “Jan, you have no spatial intelligence.”
I won’t dispute it.
Recently, I was invited to virtually present to a large utility company.
My first reaction – elation. Then I was told it would be on Teams.
Teams – Expecting the Best and Preparing for the Worst
Then I found out it would be on Teams and started hyperventilating.
Doubling down, I triple-checked all the issues I’d had in the past.
I researched and tested it on different browsers and on the app.
Got it working and set up my background with logo.
I sent in my presentation as proscribed.
I set out to log on early but got the spinning wheel of death.
Deer in the Headlights
Lo and behold I couldn’t open the link to the meeting from my account—but then was able to log in. There was my background and logo—mirrored!
Introductions, questions, and answers. After kindly letting me know that my logo was mirrored, a little while in, they asked if I had a presentation.
Me, staring like a deer in the headlights, slack-jawed, speechless. Wasn’t that a presentation that I just gave?
It took me a second to realize they wanted me to show them the presentation I’d sent. I had it handy, but could not, for the life of me, get it to load.
New Skills!
I want to thank these beautiful people again for their patience and attention, but more than anything, for their kindness.
Right after the presentation I was able to troubleshoot my issues: In the long invite mumbo-jumbo I found the meeting ID and password and used them to join from my account.
Me—grateful to have determined yet again that Teams and me are not a thing (though I tried to make it work, Baby, I really gave it all I’ve got) and for the kindness of people watching someone wrestle with technology and get pinned.