<aside> 🥅 This guide serves to help new and experienced users alike make the best use of Slack with the aim of making it a productive tool rather than a productivity drain.

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Principles.

Let's start with the basics, a few things that Slack is and few things that is not.

• Slack is a communication tool, not a collaboration tool. This means messages will get lost over time especially on the free plan (10K limit total). Don't treat as a place to store permanent information, documents work best for that.
• Slack is not email, it is closer to instant messaging. Generally speaking, a conversation is happening so don't keep people waiting during an active conversation. That said there are exceptions to this (eg announcements)
• Slack is asynchronous (like email) not synchronous (a video or phone call). This means you should not expect an instant reply to your message. If something is really urgent (and please question whether is really is urgent) jump on a call with that person or group.
• Slack is a form of 2D communication medium, not a 3D medium (source). Know when to break out into a video or phone call in terms of the context of the conversation that is happening.

Notifications.

The first practical step to stay productive in Slack is to get a handle on the notifications that are coming in and communicate expectations with your other teammates.

The first step is to turn on Do Not Disturb, this turns off notifications for a specified time period. Have it turn on at the end of the day and off at the beginning of the day. Use it to get on with some Deep Work during the day. Additionally set yourself as away if you want to keep Slack open while doing said Deep Work.

Next communicate what you are up to with your status, this will set the appropriate expectations to your team. Use it to communicate your office hours or if you are at lunch. Make use of the fact statuses can expire (eg you are on a call or at lunch)

Channels, Direct Messages & Groups.

Slack has three communication contexts, public channels, private groups and direct messages.

Direct messages and private groups will be the most familiar to you as these contexts exist on other platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. You would be tempted to drift to these contexts, however they will create silos of information and knowledge.

The final context is channels. Channels are public by default and generally cover a topic, department or project (or anything you want really).

<aside> 💡 When sending a message default to a channel over a private group or direct message. This breaks down silos of knowledge and reduces the amount of distracting notifications flying around.

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