In this month’s video, we would like to help you get started with Microsoft Viva Insights, which is one of the modules in the Microsoft Viva suite.

Other modules on Microsoft Viva are Viva Topics, Viva Connections and Viva Learning. We will be filming more videos dedicated to these other modules in the future.

What is Viva Insights?

Viva Insights is an integration of MyInsights, Workplace Analytics and Guilt by learning your working habits with AI and provide recommendations to increase your productivity. Managers or team leaders can foster healthy, successful teams by overseeing working patterns of their teammates with Viva Insights for Managers / Leaders.

In today’s video, we will be showing you features of Viva Insights for individuals which is already included in your Office365 license. Viva Insights for Managers / Leaders are an add-on item to be purchased with your O365 license. 

Access to Viva Insights on Microsoft Teams

1. Launch Teams and go to the […] button on the left.

2. You can find the Viva Insights app icon here, but if not, you can also type [Viva Insights] on the search bar to search for it.

3. This is your Viva Insights homepage. You will be able to see a lot of cards here, and we will now go through them one by one.

Up Next / Greetings Card

1. This card alerts you in various ways based on the time of day and the events in your calendar.

2. The card’s color changes to alert you of other events, such as scheduled focus time, meetings, the switch from morning to afternoon, etc.

Reflections Card

1. You can use the [Reflections] card to become more aware of how you’re feeling. This awareness can benefit both your productivity and your wellbeing. In fact, research has shown that even the act of taking a moment to reflect has positive benefits for wellbeing.

2. Select the emoji that best represents how you’re currently feeling, and [Reflection history] to see how your feelings have changed over time, as indicated by the emojis you’ve chosen.

Send Praise Card

1. You can use the [Send Praise] card to recognize the contributions of your co-workers. Praise messages are shown as notifications in Microsoft Teams.

2. Click [Send praise] to open the Praise app, and then choose a badge to include with your praise message. The badge can be your organization’s core values, or simply a recognition to your co-worker.

3. Add the name of the person you want to praise and visibility of your praise. You can have a praise message delivered in a private chat, or for wider recognition, in a Teams channel conversation.

4. You can also add a personalized note to your praise message. When you are done, click [Preview] and [Send] to send your praise message.

Headspace

1. Viva Insights has introduced a curated set of guided meditations and Focus music from [Headspace]. Reach these resources on the Home page to help you start your day grounded, relax your mind before a big presentation, or find focus before starting an important project.

2. To see your options, open the [Practice mindfulness] page by selecting [More mindfulness exercises].

3. In just a few minutes a day, meditation and mindfulness with Headspace can help you decrease stress and increase focus. Browse through a curated set of meditations that are designed to fit different scenarios within the flow of your day here.

Stay Connected Card 

1. You can use [Stay connected] card in Viva Insights to stay connected with your collaborators and improve your productivity.

2. Based on your collaboration patterns, you can pin some of your contacts as important. Click [Mark as important] for your top collaborators.

3. By clicking [More insights], you will be directed to the [Stay connected] tab. All insights from pinned important contacts are shown with higher priority at the top of the page. A list of outstanding tasks based on emails that you have sent and request from your colleagues will also be shown here.

4. Viva Insights can help you set a target 1:1 meeting frequency for each contact and provide you with meeting recommendations if you are falling out of touch. Click the [people] icon next to the pin icon and select your desired meeting frequency. A notification will be sent to you if you have not scheduled a 1:1 meeting or coaching time with this specific collaborator.

5. When you’re done with a task, click [Done] to mark it as completed.

Protect Time Card

1. You can use [Protect time] to protect time for focused work and minimize notifications (and thus distractions) by Teams chats and calls during your focus time. You can also start a virtual commute to end your day.

2. By clicking [More options], you will be directed to the [Protect time] tab. Click [Show all available times] to view your timeslots.

3. Select [Book Time] to reserve the time slot for focused work. If you don’t need the time anymore, you can select [Remove slot] to free up your calendar.

4. Once a focus time is booked, the timeslot will be blocked on your calendar to help you focus on your work without distractions.

To-Do Card

1. Viva Insights has integrated with Microsoft To Do, which is now named as Tasks by Planner and To-Do, to help you follow-up with your outstanding tasks and mark them as completed.

2. You can click [Done] on the To Do card directly to clear you task, or go to [Review all tasks in To Do] to navigate to the Task by Planner and To Do app on Teams. You can browse and manage all your outstanding tasks here.

 Virtual Commute / Wrap-up your Day

1. Use the [Virtual Commute] feature to wrap up your day and plan for the next day.

2. In [Protect time] tab, when prompted with [Ready to wrap up], select [Start].This causes your virtual commute to start immediately.

3. Virtual commute shows you your open tasks on the Microsoft To-Do list whose due date is today or that have a reminder set for today. (If you currently have no tasks, this step is not shown and you go directly to [Add new tasks]. Adding tasks here puts them directly into Microsoft To Do, complete with reminders set, so that you don’t forget about them.

4. This step shows you the events (such as meetings) that are on your schedule for tomorrow. When finished, select [Next].

5. At the end of your workday, this step lets you reflect on your feelings, just as you would by using the [Reflect] feature on the homepage. Select your emoji and click [Next].

6. Lastly, you can also started a guided meditation to wrap up your fruitful, productive day. Then, click [Next].

7. Click [Done] to finish your daily commute.