Need a quick way to make team decisions without long chat threads? Many messaging platforms offer polling tools that let you gather votes instantly. In some cases no admin rights or extra apps are required to set this up. So say goodbye to lengthy group chats and use polls in team chats instead!
Estimated Read Time: 2 minutes
The concept of polling or quick surveys has been around on social media for well over a decade (Nerdy factoid alert – Apparently Facebook led the way with their Facebook Questions feature in 2010). Access to polls in group messaging is a more recent addition (late 2010s onwards) and built-in polling is more recent still (2022 onwards). Even so, it’s amazing how few users know how much time they could save using a poll. Now you can stop yourself getting sucked into a lengthy group chat, where no-one seems to want to make a decision! You’re welcome! 😉
How to create Polls in Team Chats:
- WhatsApp – Open a group chat, tap the paperclip (Android) or “+” (iPhone), select Poll, type your question and up to 12 options, then hit Send.
- Microsoft Teams – Use the Polls app (powered by Microsoft Forms) within a chat or meeting to create quick, multiple-choice polls your team can answer instantly (no Admin rights needed to do this).
- Slack – Add a
/pollcommand (via integrations like Simple Poll or Polly) to gather structured responses in a channel (adding Simple Poll, Polly etc. may require Admin rights in your workspace).
What it’s for:
Perfect for choosing meeting times, prioritising actions, or gathering quick feedback—without endless back-and-forth messages. Polls keep discussions focused and decisions transparent.
Pro Tip:
Turn on “Allow multiple answers” (where available) if you’re looking for broad input or want team members to vote on more than one option. Perfect for organising the next ‘Team Night Out’ (and of course, now the schools have gone back, it’s time to start thinking about Christm…Shhhhhhhh!) 😀
