If you’re tired of team meetings where only three people talk and everyone else zones out, you’re not alone. Tools like Skype have built-in features—polls and Q&A—that can actually make meetings interactive, not just another place for endless monologues. This guide is for managers, team leads, or anyone who wants to run meetings where people participate, not just pretend to listen.
Below, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for using Skype’s polls and Q&A features, plus honest tips for what works and what doesn’t.
Why Bother With Polls and Q&A in Skype?
Let’s get real: Most meetings are a waste because people aren’t given simple ways to chime in. Polls and Q&A:
- Give introverts a voice (no need to jump in and interrupt)
- Make decisions faster (no more “let’s go around the room”)
- Surface real questions (not just the loudest opinions)
- Keep people engaged, even if they’re multitasking
But—these tools aren’t magic. They’re only as good as how you use them. Don’t expect a poll to fix a broken meeting, but do use them to get clearer, honest input fast.
Step 1: Check Your Skype Version (Don’t Skip)
First, make sure you’re using Skype for desktop or the latest web version. Skype’s poll and Q&A features aren’t available on every mobile app or outdated install. If you can’t find the options below, update Skype or switch to desktop.
Pro tip: Classic Skype (the really old one) won’t have these features at all. Don’t waste time looking for buttons that aren’t there.
Step 2: Set Up Your Meeting
Schedule or start your meeting as usual. Both polls and Q&A work in group chats and scheduled Skype meetings. If you’re running a call for just two or three people, honestly, you probably don’t need these features—just talk it out.
- For team meetings, make sure everyone is invited to the same group chat or call.
- For larger meetings, tell people up front you’ll be using polls or Q&A so they know to pay attention.
Step 3: Creating a Poll in Skype
Polls are great for quick votes—think “Which project should we prioritize?” or “Who wants pizza or salad for lunch?” Here’s how to set one up:
- Open your Skype group chat or meeting.
- Click the “Add-ons” button (it looks like a grid or little square of dots at the bottom of the chat window).
- Select “Poll” from the list of add-ons. If you don’t see it, you’re probably using the wrong Skype version (see Step 1).
- Fill out your poll:
- Question: Keep it short and clear.
- Options: List your choices. You can usually add up to 6.
- Allow multiple selection: Decide if people can pick more than one answer.
- Click “Create.” The poll appears in the group chat.
- Let people vote. Everyone in the chat can see and answer the poll immediately.
- Share results: Results show up in real time, but you can call them out verbally if you want to move things along.
What works: - Simple, binary choices (“Yes/No,” “A/B”) get answered. Complicated polls get ignored. - Use polls to break deadlocks or get a quick temperature check.
What doesn’t: - Don’t use polls for stuff that needs real discussion. “Should we fire John?” is not a poll. - People get “poll fatigue” if you overdo it. Don’t run a poll every five minutes.
Step 4: Using Q&A for Structured Questions
Skype’s Q&A feature is built for meetings where you want to collect, organize, and answer questions without everyone talking over each other. Think of it like a moderated chat for questions.
To enable Q&A in Skype Meetings:
- Start or schedule your Skype meeting.
- In the meeting window, click the “...” (More options) button.
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Select “Q&A.” This opens a side panel where attendees can submit questions.
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If you don’t see this, Q&A might not be available in your version. Skype sometimes rolls features out unevenly—check the help docs or try updating again.
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Participants type questions into the Q&A panel. Only moderators and presenters see all questions by default.
- Moderators can mark questions as answered (publicly or privately) and choose which ones to answer out loud.
What works: - Use Q&A for larger meetings or when you have external guests (e.g., all-hands, webinars). - Helps quieter folks ask questions without jumping in. - Keeps the main chat free for conversation, not just a wall of questions.
What doesn’t: - If you ignore the Q&A panel, people stop using it. Assign someone to monitor it. - Avoid over-moderating—filtering every question makes things feel stiff and corporate.
Step 5: Best Practices for Engaging Meetings
Features are only half the battle. Here’s what actually gets people to participate:
- Announce the poll or Q&A: Don’t just drop it in—say “Hey, I’m posting a poll, please vote.”
- Keep it short: The longer your poll or the more complicated your Q&A rules, the fewer responses you’ll get.
- Acknowledge answers: Read out poll results or answer questions live. People want to know their input mattered.
- Don’t overuse tools: Use polls or Q&A only when there’s a real need. Otherwise, meetings get bogged down in “participation theater.”
- Follow up: If a Q&A question needs a longer answer, say you’ll follow up after the meeting—and actually do it.
Step 6: Dealing With Common Annoyances
No tool is perfect. Here’s what to watch for and how to handle it:
- People don’t respond: Call it out. “Looks like only 3 of us voted—anyone else want to weigh in?”
- Feature missing? Double-check you’re on the latest Skype desktop/web version. Some features are flaky or region-locked.
- Poll or Q&A not showing for someone: Tell them to refresh, update, or join from desktop.
- Too many questions at once: Assign a co-host or helper to triage the Q&A panel.
When Not to Bother With Polls or Q&A
- Small groups: If it’s just you and two others, talk it out.
- Sensitive topics: Use your judgment—some things need a real conversation.
- Every meeting: Don’t force interactivity. Sometimes, less is more.
Pro Tips and Honest Advice
- Don’t let features drive your agenda. Use polls and Q&A to support good meetings, not replace them.
- If you need anonymous feedback, Skype polls aren’t anonymous. For sensitive stuff, look elsewhere.
- Sometimes, people just want to listen—and that’s fine. Don’t guilt-trip non-responders.
- Q&A is great for collecting questions, but don’t use it as a dumping ground—review and follow up after the meeting.
Keep It Simple and Iterate
The best meetings aren’t about having the fanciest tools—they’re about clear communication and genuine participation. Try out Skype’s polls and Q&A features, see what sticks, and tweak as you go. Don’t overthink it: use what works, drop what doesn’t, and keep your meetings focused on getting real work done.