Well, 2025 was quite the year! As I look back at my content, I’m amazed at how much Microsoft 365 and the Power Platform have evolved. From AI-powered agents to dynamic form features that we’ve been waiting years for, it’s been an exciting time to be working in this space. This is a recap of my top 5 blog posts from the year—the ones that resonated most with you.
1. Building Branching Logic in List Forms
https://www.iwmentor.com/pages/blog/building-branching-logic-in-list-forms
If you’ve been following my work for a while, you know I’ve been talking about SharePoint features for years. Well, this post highlights that Microsoft gave us something we’ve been asking for: branching logic in modern SharePoint list forms!
I walked through how to create smart, dynamic forms that show or hide fields based on user selections. My example was a new employee onboarding form that adapts based on whether someone is a full-time employee, part-time employee, or contractor. The form displays relevant questions—like asking for IT admin access only if the employee is in the IT department, or requesting a shipping address only if the employee is remote.
What I love about this feature is how it eliminates the clutter and confusion with traditional forms. Instead of scrolling past irrelevant fields, users only see what matters to them. This not only improves the user experience but also reduces data entry errors and speeds up the entire process.
The post covers everything from creating your list columns to setting up the branching rules, testing your form, and sharing it. I also compared SharePoint’s branching logic with Microsoft Forms and Power Apps, so you can see the different options available and choose what works best for your situation. If you’ve been frustrated with static forms that don’t adapt to different scenarios, this feature is a game-changer.
2. Power Automate: Populating Word Templates in SharePoint
https://www.iwmentor.com/pages/blog/power-automate-word-templates-in-sharepoint
Document generation is one of those tasks that seems simple on the surface but can get complicated quickly. This post tackles one of the most requested automation scenarios: how to take data from SharePoint and automatically populate a formatted Word document.
I demonstrated the workflow, from setting up your Word template with content controls to building a flow that fills in the data. The key is using the Developer tab in Word to insert controls and giving each one a meaningful name. Once your template is set up, Power Automate can map data from a data source directly into those fields.
But I didn’t stop at basic field population. I also covered advanced features like creating repeating tables for expenses or issue tracking, inserting images dynamically, and even capturing signatures through Power Apps to create fully executed, signed documents. I also showed how to convert the generated Word document to a PDF, making it perfect for distribution or archiving.
What makes this solution so powerful is its versatility. Whether you’re generating contracts, creating reports, building correspondence, or producing a standardized document, this approach saves time and ensures consistency. Plus, I included tips on troubleshooting common issues and best practices for managing your templates. If you’re tired of manually copying and pasting data into documents, this automation will change your workflow.
3. Microsoft Loop: A New Home for Your Wiki
https://www.iwmentor.com/pages/blog/build-a-wiki-with-microsoft-loop-instead-of-sharepoint
As a long-time SharePoint consultant, I remember the days when SharePoint’s wiki functionality was a go-to solution for knowledge management. When Microsoft retired those classic wiki pages, many teams were left searching for alternatives. In this post, I explored how Microsoft Loop has emerged as an excellent replacement—and in many ways, an upgrade.
The star of the show here is Loop’s backlinks functionality. This feature allows you to create interconnected pages that mimic the intuitive navigation we loved in wikis. I walked through building an IT documentation hub as an example, showing how to create a workspace, a hub page, and subpages for different topics.
What sets Loop apart is how organic the navigation feels. You can paste links between pages to create connections, and Loop handles the formatting automatically. I covered the three main components of Loop: workspaces (your top-level containers), pages (flexible canvases for your content), and components (shareable pieces that can be embedded in Teams or emails).
Beyond the basics, I explored some of Loop’s more advanced features that make it particularly powerful for knowledge management. Version history lets you track changes and revert when needed. Copilot integration provides AI-powered recaps and lets you ask questions about your content. And the ability to link tasks to Planner creates a seamless connection between documentation and execution.
I also addressed considerations like controlling access to sensitive documentation, sharing strategies, and making your knowledge base professional and dynamic. For IT teams especially, Loop offers a modern approach to documentation that integrates beautifully with the broader Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
4. Creating and Using Copilot Agents in SharePoint
https://www.iwmentor.com/pages/blog/creating-and-using-copilot-agents-in-sharepoint
Copilot agents represent one of the most exciting developments in SharePoint this year, and this post dives into how to harness their power. I used an example that many organizations can relate to: creating an agent to answer questions about company policies stored in SharePoint.
The beauty of Copilot agents is how simple they are to create. With just a few clicks from a library, you can spin up an intelligent assistant that can answer questions based on your content. I walked through the setup process: creating the agent, configuring its identity, setting up sources (which sites and libraries it should reference), and defining its behavior with welcome messages and instructions.
But the real magic happens when you start using the agent. I demonstrated asking questions about company policies, and the agent provided answers and cited the specific documents it referenced. You can even select specific files and ask targeted questions, or compare multiple documents to understand differences between them.
The post also covered practical applications beyond policy questions. I showed how to integrate agents into Teams conversations, manage approval settings, and even explored other creative uses for it. I also touched on the editing features with Copilot in SharePoint pages, showing how you can use AI to rewrite and adjust content on the fly.
What excites me most about Copilot agents is their potential to transform how teams access and interact with knowledge. Instead of searching through folders and reading entire documents, users can have natural conversations and get the information they need, complete with references for verification.
5. Power Apps Progress Bar: Step-by-Step
https://www.iwmentor.com/pages/blog/power-apps-progress-bar-step-by-step
Progress bars might seem like a small detail, but they make a huge difference in user experience. In this post, I demonstrated how to implement the Progress Bar Control in Power Apps to create dynamic, visual indicators of progress.
The tutorial starts with the basics—understanding the Value and Max properties, and exploring customization options like progress colors (brand, success, warning, error), thickness, and shape. But the real value comes in showing how to connect this control to real-world scenarios.
I used a travel request approval form as my example, showing how to map text-based status values to numerical progress. The secret is creating a collection that acts as a lookup table, connecting status labels like “New,” “In Progress,” “Manager Approval,” and “Completed” to numbers that the progress bar can display. This approach makes the implementation clean and maintainable.
I also covered the details that make or break an implementation: using the Lookup function to dynamically display the progress based on status, setting the maximum value, and handling edge cases like new forms that don’t have a status. The post demonstrates how to use the same progress bar concept in both forms and galleries, with examples of adapting the formulas for each context.
Beyond the standard progress bar control, I explored alternatives like using SVG images for smoother gradient effects, overlaying rectangles for creative progress displays, and repurposing the slider control as a progress indicator. I gave tips on making progress bars responsive and visually appealing, including how to center elements dynamically and create flexible layouts.
This post represents what I love about Power Apps: showing how to connect controls to real data and workflows to create professional apps that improve the user experience.
Top 5 TikTok Videos of 2025
I started a TikTok account for the first time in 2025 also! Here are my top 5 videos of the year:
1. Planner in Teams: The Easiest Way to Manage Tasks & Projects Unlock team productivity with Microsoft Teams and Planner!
Planner has seamless integration, task management features, and easy access from the Teams taskbar. Free Teams course at iwmentor.com #MicrosoftTeams #Planner #ProductivityTips #Teamwork #TaskManagement #Microsoft365 #CollaborationTools #ProjectManagement #Microsoft365 #TeamsTutorial
2. Teams Power: Send Email to a Channel! Unlock the power of channel communication!
I explore the ’email to channel’ feature. Since a channel is a folder in SharePoint, now the emails and their attachments are in your library! Excerpt from iwmentor.com #microsoftteams #GroupCollaboration #microsoft365 #ProductivityTips #TechTutorial #CommunicationHacks
3. Microsoft Forms in Teams: Create & Share Surveys Easily! Explore Microsoft Forms within Teams!
Creating, and add forms as tabs. Learn to differentiate between personal and group forms, and discover how to create shared forms for seamless team collaboration. Perfect your flow of work! Training at iwmentor. #MicrosoftForms #MicrosoftTeams #TeamCollaboration #ProductivityHacks #OnlineSurveys #Microsoft365 #FormsTutorial #DigitalWorkspace #TeamProductivity
4. Unlock SharePoint Approval Magic: Get page edits approved Learn how to edit and customize page approval flows in SharePoint and Power Automate!
I demonstrate turning on page approval, navigating to the Site Pages library, and configuring a new flow. Discover how to automate approvals using Power Automate for seamless workflows. Boost your SharePoint efficiency now! Training at iwmentor #SharePoint #PowerAutomate #ApprovalFlow #WorkflowAutomation #Microsoft365 #SharePointTutorial #PageApproval #AutomationTips #TechTutorial #ProductivityHacks
5. Create Shareable Forms in Microsoft Lists & SharePoint! Learn how to create a new form!
I demonstrate setting titles, descriptions, and field visibility. Uncheck boxes to simplify forms, and rearrange fields easily. Master form customization and sharing in SharePoint Lists, which are the same thing as Microsoft Lists! Training at iwmentor.com #SharePoint #MicrosoftLists #Microsoft365 #FormTutorial #ProductivityHacks #FormLogic #OnlineForms #FormDesign
Wrapping Up
Looking back at these five posts, I’m struck by a common theme: Microsoft is actively listening to what users need and filling gaps in functionality. Whether it’s bringing back features we missed (like branching logic), introducing powerful new tools (like Copilot agents), or enhancing existing platforms (like Loop), 2025 has been a year of meaningful progress.
What I find most exciting is that all of these solutions are accessible to non-developers. You don’t need to be a programmer to create intelligent forms, automate documents, build knowledgebases, deploy agents, or design apps. The democratization of these tools means more people can solve real business problems without waiting for IT departments or custom development.
As we head into 2026, I’m excited to continue exploring these platforms and sharing what I learn with all of you. The Microsoft 365 and Power Platform ecosystem keeps evolving, and I’m here to help you make sense of it all and put these tools to work.
Thank you for reading, watching my videos, attending Power Hour sessions, and being part of this community. Your questions, feedback, and real-world scenarios help shape the content I create. Here’s to another year of learning, building, and making work life a little bit easier with better technology!
If you want to dive deeper into any of these topics, all the posts include detailed step-by-step instructions, screenshots, and accompanying videos. And if you’re looking for more structured learning, check out my courses at iwmentor.com, where I go even deeper into SharePoint, Power Apps, Power Automate, and Microsoft 365.
Here’s to making 2026 even better. Happy building!
I’d love to meet you in person! Here is my list of upcoming speaking engagements: