Slack for Startups

Pick up Slack

Remember 2 things to be successful in this course:

• Remember the mission

• Learn smart

  
  

  Follow this recipe for success!

1. The Slack Mission

   1. “Make work simple, pleasant, and productive.”

   2. Let’s break it down

      1. Simple

         1. Facilitate communication with your team

         2. Share information

         3. Store information for future reference

      2. Pleasant

         1. Boost comprehension of work

            1. Leads to happier people

         2. Bring company values and culture online

         3. Increase self reliance for your team

      3. Productive

         1. Automate processes

            1. Reduces people power burden

         2. Schedule and Organize work

         3. Send and receive feedback with your team

         4. Manage teams and work in one place

Learn Smart

Course includes 4 learning layers to guide you through mastery.

Make sure to complete each lesson assigned to you.

Active Learning

Reap benefits of active learning.

“Learning by doing” = Long term learning!

1. Demonstration

2. Activities

3. Projects

4. Practice

5. Create

6. Remember!

   
   

Activity: Slack Goals

List your goals:

What are your goals for using Slack? Share any skills or outcomes you hope to achieve in this course.

Feel free to share with your peers by adding a comment on this lesson in Udemy.

Where We Work

The desktop App is best way to get alerts and notifications.

Desktop app is not required to complete the course.

However, the desktop app is required to create a functioning digital work environment

Activity: Download Slack Desktop App

1. Sign in or create an account here: https://slack.com/

No account? No worries!

Check out my free mini course "Slack: Getting Started Guide". This will get you all setup and ready to jump back into this course.

2. Launch Slack

->Open workspace

->Workspace Dropdown

->“Open Slack App”

Your Workspace

Your Slack Workspace is:

A representation of your organization internally.

A reflection of your desired workplace experience.

Your Slack Workspace Should:

Create a home for your team, values, the workplace experience.

Use a workspace icon so members can easily identify where they are.

Activity: Workspace Icon

Find:

1. Your logo or a simple picture that represents your organization.

2. Add this to your workspace for all members to see!

Problem: “Slack is Overwhelming”

Reasons that lead to this common complaint:

Poor design

Haphazard channels

Messages pour in non-stop

Information is spread out

This causes member:

Burnout

Dislike (hate)

Confusion

Decreased productivity

Solution: Learn the Layout

Lucky for us, Slack is a workspace we get to design all our own! Think of your workspace as an office that you fill with rooms for work.

Workspace Floor Plan

Workspace = The Office

Channels = Meeting Rooms

Messages = Work being done

Emoji = Work being interacted with

Floor 1 = Apps

Floor 2 = People

Floor 3 = Conference Rooms

Floor 4 = Settings

+ Hallways = Your Sidebar

Slack Channel Overview

Let’s dive into the rooms in our workspace where things get done!

Channels in Slack are dynamic places where discussions and feedback take place. This work gets done in real time between members.

Channel Information

Default channels are:

General

Random

Channel types are:

1. Public

a. seen channels

b. hidden channels

2. Private

(more on these later)

Activity: Create Welcome Channel

1. Create a new channel named "#welcome".

Set the description to “Welcome to the (your workspace name) workspace! This channel is for introductions and new members to ask questions.”

2. Add Members (Optional)

Add member(s) to the channel

Channel visibility

How do you find channels in your Slack workspace?

Members can access:

Joined channels

Hidden channels

1. Joined

Channels you have been invited to.

Default channels

2.Hidden

Public channels you have not been invited to.

Discoverable via search only

Slack Channel Access Overview

You must manage who is in a channel!

Add members manually to make sure they are included.

Remove members who no longer need to be in a channel.

Hidden vs private Channels

All members don’t see the same channels!

Some may be hidden or private.

Don’t assume another member’s sidebar includes the same channels as you see in your own.

Join Channels

Join the fun!

Join Public Channel

1. Search for it

Join Private Channel

1. Be invited

Tip: To join any public channel, use command "join".

/join

Leave Channels

Leave it!

Leave any channel

1. Manually

    -> Channel details

          -> Leave

Tip: To leave any channel, use command "leave".

/leave

Add + Remove Members from Channels

Public channel

    -> Go to channel

        -> add people

Private Channels

All private channels in Slack have restricted access.

Members can not join on their own, they must be invited.

However, members can leave private channels on their own.

Private channels in Slack are not "discoverable" via search.

Note:

Private channels should be rare.

Be conservative in the number of private channels you create.

Slack = Transparency

Making too many private channels undermines the trust and accountability in your workspace.

If someone should not be in a certain channel, whether it is public or private, either:

A. Don’t invite them

or

B. Remove them

Activity: Create Private Channel

Create a private channel for you to keep notes and practice what you learn in this course.

Create new channel and name it “#course-slack-guide”.

Set the description something like this:

“A place for my notes, files and practice form the slack course (add link to course)."

Set the channel access to private.

If you have someone you want to share your notes with from this course, add them to your new channel in Slack.

Channel Naming

Best practices for naming your Slack channels:

1. Use prefixes in channel names

2. Clarify channel purpose in the description

3. Abbreviate sensitive words in channel names

4. Consider workspace privacy

Channel Prefixes

What are they?

Prefixes are used at the beginning of a channel name.

They are meant to show the category, or type, of channel.

Prefix examples

Proj-

Team-

Help-

Why use prefixes?

They help members to find the right channel at a glance.

Prefixes also further clarify the channel purpose.

Note: This becomes more important as your workspace grows to 10+ channels.

Using prefixes at the beginning of channel names helps to create consistency across your organization in Slack.

Create a channel prefix.

Create new channel

1. Start typing one of the default prefixes

example: "Team"

2. After the prefix, add the name of the team who will use the channel.

Example: "#team-sales"

Abbreviate Words in Channels

What is an abbreviation?

A. An added layer of privacy in case info leaks outside your organization.

B. A way to shorten long or complicated project names.

Organize Slack Channels

Arrange channels so they make sense for YOU!

These settings adjust where your own channels show up.

They do not affect others in your workspace.

Only you see this custom channel arrangement!

Organizing your workspace allows you to design it to reflect HOW and WHERE you work.

How to arrange channels:

A. Free plan- Stars

B. Paid plan- Section / Group

Star Slack Channels

Available on ALL Slack plans.

Starring a channel marks it as a priority.

Use this for your most important channels so they show up first in your sidebar!

Sidebar Sections

Available on paid plans in Slack.

Create channel sections to add channels to categories.

Use this to help manage buckets of work.

Example:

1. Create a section for the teams you work on. Name it "My Teams".

2. Add any “#team-” channels you are currently working in to this section.

Course check in! :)

You are learning a lot… good job!

Remember:

1. Ask questions in Udemy

2. Take notes

Remember what you are learning by writing it in your own words.

Write down what you do not understand. Then, can come back to it later and make sure you understand by the end of the course.

This will help you achieve your learning goals!

Posts in Slack

Create a new notes document right in Slack using Posts!

“Posts” are:

Like a Google or Word document

They can be shared in channels or direct messages.

Viewable

Editable

Why Use Posts?

Keep your notes in the cloud!

View and edit notes right in Slack. :)

I <3 posts

Activity: Create Post

1. Go to private channel #course-slack-guide

2. Click Lightning bolt ("shortcuts")

3. Create new Post

4. Name Post “Channel Fundamentals”

5. Add your notes from this section

6. Exit Post to auto save

Find Your Post:

1. go to "File Browser"

2. Click to expand your Post

How to work in Slack

Common Slack Problems:

"So many notifications."

Missing important info in channels.

Forget what you saw a few hours ago and have to ask the person to resend it.

Get tagged so often that you stop taking notifications seriously and avoid checking them.

Solutions:

Understand the process for checking notifications.

Limit unnecessary messages in channels.

Use my secret formula ...

"The 5 Keys of Communication in Slack"

1. Emojis

2. Threads

3. Direct Messages

4. Polls

5. Save

+ Bonus!

Slack Emoji

What are Emoji?

They are a “reaction” to anything posted in Slack.

+ (They are my favorite.)

Why use Emoji?

They are simple.

Pleasant

Show values

Visual = no reading required

Emojis do not trigger any notifications (more on this later)

How to use Emoji

Most used emoji are:

Eyes = “viewing”

Check mark = “complete”

High five = “Good job”

Emoji Activity

1. React to a message

2. Set emoji shortcut

3. Set skin tone

What are Slack Threads and Messages?

Why use messages?

Send a message in order to:

A. Announce something in a channel

B. Provide a general update

C. Send a draft you are working on

D. Submit a project for review

E. Ask a question for the channel members

etc, etc!

How to send a message in Slack:

Send a message in any channel from the text box.

Messages are the most common way most people communicate in slack, but they can be over used...

Default notifications are set so that everyone in the channel gets notified of new messages automatically!

Subscribe to the weekly tech podcast! 

Overall Enthusiasm Podcast

https://anchor.fm/overallenthusiasm

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Messages vs Comments

What is the difference?

• Messages start a new conversation in a channel.

• Threads contain additional messages specifically tied to the original one. Commenting on a message in a channel creates a new thread!

Threads

Threads are made when a comment is posted on a message.

Comments show up as nested under the original message in a channel and must be expanded to show more.

Why use threads?

Comments should be related specifically to the message they are associated with.

Comments provide or ask for additional information concerning the message above

Do not send new notifications to all members of a channel

Organizes conversations simply in the channel

View Your Threads

A. When someone comments on your message

OR

B. You comment on any message

This activity shows up in the "Threads" section of your sidebar!

Mentions

What are mentions in Slack?

Mentions include names of specific people in a channel or a channel itself.

They show special priority for those who are tagged.

Common mentions in Slack:

@name = person

@channel = every member of the channel

@here = every member of channel who is currently active

Tip: View mentions in your sidebar!

Messages that mention you show up here

Reactions from others on your messages and comments show up here

Don't use mentions in Slack when sending general information to a channel.

Remember: Default notifications alert everyone in a channel about new messages. So you don't have to tag someone in order for them to see it.

The only people in a channel should be those who have a reason to stay up to date on the activity. It’s their responsibility to do so and be disciplined about checking their channels for general messages. Do not overwhelm members by tagging them unnecessarily!

Discourage unnecessary use of @channel mentions unless you really need everyone to see it as a priority

Example of poor use of tagging :

Asking members what they had for breakfast

DMs

What are they?

A.  1:1

B. 1: a few

C. Impromptu!

Direct Message Analogy:

"It's like walking over to a co-worker’s desk to chat about something."

Why use DMs?

Reduces chatter in channels

Example:

If there are a lot of people having small conversations in a room, then everyone starts yelling and it becomes harder to pay attention!

How to Use Direct Messages (DMs)

Go to the 2nd floor of your Workspace = People

See previous DM history here.

1. Create a new DM.

2. Hide outdated DM links

Click “x” next to DM title

To reduce clutter in your sidebar

Does not delete message history

3. Use dm command from text box

/dm @name your message here

Ex: /dm @carlee Do you have time to work on the report with me today?

Polls in Slack

What are they?

Collect info from channel based on option you set ahead of time.

Why use Polls?

Get feedback without scheduling a meeting!

Allow people to submit input on their own time.

Make feedback transparent.

Simplify your workflow.

Polls in Slack increase : productivity, time to focus, trust from your members.

Create a Poll

Simple Poll App

Note free version limits.

• Monthly votes per workspace

• Options allowed per poll

Project: Create Poll

1. Add Simple Poll App

Create your first poll in #welcome channel.

1. Open Simple Poll in Slack App

2. Go to App Home

3. Follow steps to create your first poll

Tip: Tag whoever you want to participate in the poll

@name(s) or @channel

Then, notify them when a decision has been made based on the poll results!

Save It in Slack

What is "Save"?

It's is like adding to your "to do list" of messages to read, and work to get done!

Why use "Save"?

Reduces stress of having to remember what notification you read already.

Allows you to track work dynamically.

Save is Slack’s built in task manager!

How to Save in Slack

1. Go to any message or file

2. Hover

3. "Save"

View saved messages in your sidebar

Tip: Un-save item when it no longer needs your attention.

Bonus! GIFS

What are GIFs?

GIFs are an image animation.

Another method of visual communication on Slack.

Why use GIFs at work?

Humor

Empathy

Visual = People don’t have to read!

Break up monotony of text

How to use GIFs in Slack

Use GIPHY App!

Command /giphy

Tip: Don’t overuse GIPHY in your channels

1. Be sensitive to humor only when it is appropriate

2. Be sensitive to which channels may warrant more humor than others

How to use GIPHY App

Tip: Don’t overuse GIPHY in your channels

1. Be sensitive to humor only when it is appropriate

2. Be sensitive to which channels may warrant more humor than others