We are inclined to take Microsoft Outlook for granted. After all, we’ve been using this program to read email messages and manage our schedules for years now. However, Microsoft Outlook is a surprisingly powerful program. If you want to make the most out of it, it’s time to examine some of its hidden attributes. Here are three key tips that can help you save time and work more efficiently when connected to Microsoft Outlook.

Eliminate the Clutter

You possibly have “Conversation View” switched on in Outlook currently.  This view helps keep conversations neatly arranged into one thread. You can find the desired email without having to search through days of backlogged emails. There is a possible downside to this view however. Newer conversations can become very chaotic with repetitive quoted text. Turning off this quoted text is very simply with Outlook.  Right-click the conversation thread and select “Clean Up Conversation.” All the unnecessary repeat copies will now be eradicated from the individual emails in the conversation thread.

Say it in a Picture

Using screenshots in your emails is always an excellent way to successfully help express your message, particularly for IT support issues. Inserting a screenshot into your email is very simple with Outlook.  All you have to do is click the “Insert” tab and then select the “Screenshot” option. From here, Outlook will generate images of all the windows open on your desktop.  Choose the appropriate one and it will be inserted into your email.

Take Out the Trash

Did you know that all of those old emails in your trash folder are using up lots of precious space? It can be easy to neglect to empty our email trash. Outlook has made that simple too! Select the “File” tab and then select “Options.” Go to the “Advanced” section and look for the “Start” and “Exit” options. By checking the box after “Empty Deleted Items” when exiting Outlook, this will enable Outlook to automatically get rid of your trash folder every time you exit the program.