Using Slack: Tips & Recommendations

What is Slack?

Slack is an online communications tool that allows users to message each other directly, whether individually or in groups with other users, and via channels which can be both public (users within that Slack space can see it) or private whereby you can only view the channel content if invited to the channel.

Tip #1 - Use the Snooze when you're doing focused work

Deep work. Focused work. Your Flow State. Whatever you want to call it.

We all have times when we need to communicate with others at work and be responsive to requests or enquiries, and there are also times when we need to be able focus our minds to create and deliver a piece of work - and that can be quite disruptive if you're getting pinged incessantly on Slack.

Pop on the Snooze notification so that you can catch-up with your messages when it suits you. You can select how long you would like this quiet time to last (handy so you don't forget to resume them) then when time is up you will receive the notifications again.

This minimises disruption and reduces context switching by allowing you to have the focused time you need to do what you gotta do.

Tip #2 - Use the built in emojis and include a status message

Yes, yes; you might think emojis are something used by pre-adolescent TikTok users, but they are useful in business too.

Using the large range of emojis that Slack provides can help to visually convey a message to your colleagues without them even clicking to message you.

The emoji appears next to your profile picture on the user menu bar so that your fellow co-workers can instantly see your status.

For example, if you're taking lunch you could add an emoji that reflects you are eating food (and there are various fun options.)

Including a short status message is also useful as it appears when a user hovers over your chosen emoji.

Personally I find the 'speech bubble' 💬emoji handy if

you want to convey a quick message that you have popped out or will be back shortly.

Oh, and by the way - you can add your own custom emojis too, which is pretty fun.

Tip #3 - Use the Schedule Message feature

Are you that person who responds to messages at 9pm after getting your kids off to sleep?

Well I've been on both sides of that fence and, whilst personally I don't mind (and you can have notifications snoozed anyway), Slack has a useful feature that you can schedule messages to be sent at a more suitable working time.

The rise of flexible working has been a great development in the modern way of working as it allows people to do work at a time that suits them.

We are all different, after all.

And you might be a 'night person' that has optimal concentration time during evenings, whilst I might be a 'morning person' whose mental focus tails off in the evening.

I won't go off on a tangent here about my beliefs in the benefits of Asynchronous Working but I feel that everyone should be able to carry out their work in the way that best suits them individually - and using the scheduling feature might help your non-night-working colleagues to get some undisturbed rest in the evening.

Tip #4 - In a Slack Channel, directly tag your intended recipient(s)

"Who is that message meant for? Are they asking me?"

Slack channels are useful to allow a group of people to have visibility of messages even if they are not the intended recipient.

But it can also open the doors for confusion if you're sending a message on the channel without indicating specifically who it is directed towards.

It's good practice to tag your target recipients (using @TheirName) at the beginning of the post if you want to show that the message or question is directed towards them.

And if you want others to be aware you could add a "CC" with their names tagged at the end.

Tip #5 - Indicate that you have seen the message

Showing you received a message can prevent the "I'm just checking you saw my message" follow-up message

Slack makes working very efficient in many ways but one thing that can be frustrating is when a message is directed to you on a channel, perhaps with a specific request to do something, and the sender has no idea whether you have received the message or not.

Using a 'thumbs-up'👍 emoji is a popular way to recognise that you have read the message.

I realised recently that some people use the 'eyes' 👀 emoji to indicate they have read the message - which I was glad to find out, as I thought I had startled my colleagues by what I was saying...

And it really wasn't that bad..

Tip #6 - Don't feel pressured to respond immediately

"Oh my, oh my - so many urgent messages, so little time!!!"

I have been familiar with and accustomed to remote working since the early 2000's, long before the Pandemic forced many employers to go remote, and I have a good work discipline - but recently I have noticed pressure to respond rising, and its certainly caused me to feel stressed on occasion.

This pressure could all be in my head or due to the nature of the fast-paced environments that I work in, but consequently I have needed to make a conscious effort to ensure that, whilst I will always follow a fundamental working principle to always respond in a timely manner, that I will also not allow myself to feel needlessly pressured. Your good health is more important than a quick response.

My verdict on Slack

Slack is an amazing communication tool to connect remote / distributed teams within a unified online space, overcoming any need to be in the same physical location - but it needs to be kept under control or it could start to become a factor in declining mental health and stress, which can silently creep up on you without you realising.

Tame your Slack, set your boundaries, and you can live the remote working dream, my friends.

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