25 Slack Tricks to Make You and Your Group Extra Efficient

Slack modified office communication. It may be a useful instrument or an amusing diversion — and this makes Slack ideas important to chop by means of the noise.

Slack is able to a lot that it is arduous to uncover what options you actually must be utilizing. To assist, we put collectively among the greatest Slack ideas and tips beneath.

From creating to-do lists to customizing your theme, these professional ideas are value exhibiting off to your group. Scan the total checklist of Slack tips or soar to the part you are searching for:

Slack is an effective way to attach and collaborate. However it could take time to be taught probably the most useful options. A newbie’s information to Slack is the very best place to begin.

Companies utilizing Professional, Enterprise+, or Enterprise Grid plans on Slack can add channels, direct messages, and apps to customized sections within the sidebar. Customized sections are only for you, and will not affect anybody else in your group, so you may manage them in a means that works greatest for you.

To create a customized part, click on the + on the prime proper of your prime channel within the left navigation menu. Then choose “Create a brand new channel” or “Create a brand new part.” You’ll be able to choose from the present choices or add a novel emoji and title for a customized part.

Word: You’ll be able to solely create customized sections on a desktop pc. However as soon as you have added them you can use them on each desktop and cellular.

2. Pause notifications for centered work time.

Totally different work cultures have totally different expectations for availability on Slack. However there are occasions when workers want some uninterrupted work time. So, as a substitute of closing a door or hanging a “Do Not Disturb” signal, pause your notifications.

This offers a easy sign to your group so you will get the centered time you want. To pause your notifications, click on in your profile. Then, scroll to “Pause notifications” and select the period of time that is greatest for you.

You may as well set a notification schedule. That is additional useful for groups that work throughout totally different time zones. It helps everybody perceive once you’re out there to reply shortly, and when getting a response might take extra time.

3. Pin messages and hyperlinks for simple recall.

Slack may also be the digital bulletin board on the middle of your workplace. Once you “pin” a message, you are saving it for the total group in that dialog or channel. This makes it straightforward for everybody to revisit necessary studying, paperwork, and feedback.

To pin a message, hover over the message, then click on on the three dots within the prime right-hand nook. Then, scroll all the way down to “Pin to channel.” The chosen message background will change colour, and show a message on the prime that claims “Pinned by [your name].” You may as well use the highest bar to seek for pinned posts.

4. Regulate your sidebar to point out unread channels solely.

Because the variety of channels you subscribe to grows, chances are you’ll be searching for methods to chop down on overwhelm. Some select to mute channels, however that may imply lacking necessary communication. Others make an replace to the “Channels” part to focus on what they have not learn but.

To make this replace, head to the “Channels” part in your left-hand sidebar. Hover over Channels, click on the three dots to the best, then scroll to “Present” > “Unread channels solely.”

5. Join your instruments to Slack.

One other characteristic of Slack that helps you ramp up productiveness is its connectivity. Whether or not you are sharing delicate paperwork or operating a enjoyable icebreaker along with your group, there are over 2000 Slack integrations you need to use.

For instance, many groups are already utilizing Google Drive to create and retailer recordsdata on-line, so why not get the very best of each worlds? Once you join your Google Drive with Slack, you will have the flexibility to learn and index imported recordsdata, and shortly seek for them everytime you want them.

There are two methods to attach your Google Drive to Slack:

In case you have a Google Drive hyperlink you need to share, merely paste it right into a message field. It will immediate Slackbot to ship the next message:

Click on “Sure” to grant Google Drive permission to learn the file.

If you do not have a file you are able to share, however need to join Google Drive for future use, go to the Google Drive app web page. From right here, click on “Configure” subsequent to your group title, then click on “Authenticate your Google Drive Account” > “Enable.”

HubSpot prospects: If you wish to combine Slack even deeper into your workplace processes, take a look at this text that exhibits you easy methods to take advantage of your Slack integration.

6. Use the /remind instructions to create a to-do checklist.

Set a Slackbot reminder that will help you hold observe of what that you must get performed. To get began, merely enter /remind into the textual content field, adopted by your activity. (Word: Solely it is possible for you to to see the command and the reminder.)

You’ll be able to schedule a reminder for a selected time or set a date utilizing the MM/DD/YYYY format. Slack recommends this construction for a reminder: /remind [@someone or #channel] “[what]” [when].

If you wish to evaluation your checklist of reminders, merely use the command /remind checklist. From there, you may mark sure duties as full or delete those you now not want.

7. Shortly ship a non-public message utilizing the /msg command.

Typically we discover ourselves with questions that decision for the eye of everybody in a selected channel. , necessary issues equivalent to, “Does anybody have a stapler?” or “Who’s free for lunch?”

After you ask a query, keep away from any additional disruption by following up with folks with a non-public message. For instance, as soon as you understand Steve is free to seize a chew to eat, use the next command to shortly open up a non-public message to hash out the small print: /msg @person [your message].

8. Bounce to latest conversations in seconds.

For those who’ve received a extremely massive group, it is seemingly that you simply’re concerned with fairly just a few Slack channels. To shortly and simply change from a channel to a non-public message again to a distinct channel, hit ⌘ + Ok (Mac) or Ctrl + Ok (Home windows and Linux).

A pop-up will seem the place you may start typing an individual or channel and choose the proper choice to open the dialog.

9. Create a to-do checklist utilizing Saved Gadgets.

Saved gadgets on Slack are a strategy to mark a activity as necessary, like pinned messages. However solely you may see your saved gadgets, to allow them to be helpful for private reminders.

To avoid wasting an merchandise, merely transfer your mouse to a message or file and choose the flag define to make it flip pink. Then, to view your saved gadgets, click on Saved gadgets on the prime of the left navigation menu.

Saving requests and recordsdata that that you must work on makes it straightforward so that you can create a to-do checklist on the fly.

10. Conduct superior searches.

One of many nice issues about Slack is that messages and recordsdata are simply searchable. As a result of channels transfer so quick, you need to use these superior search instructions to drag up precisely what you are searching for with out losing any time.

Channels and Direct Messages

• in:channelname – Searches solely the messages and/or recordsdata in a selected channel.
• in:title – Searches your direct messages with a selected person.

Messages or Information From a Particular Individual

• from:username – Limits your search to messages from a selected particular person in any channel or direct message.
• from:me – Searches solely messages you have despatched, wherever in Slack.

Hyperlinks, Saved Gadgets, and Emoji Reactions

You’ll be able to slender your search to messages that include a URL, messages you’ve saved, or messages that include a selected emoji utilizing search outcomes filters.

Dates and Instances

• earlier than: Use the pop-up to seek for messages despatched at a selected time.
• after: Use phrases like “week,” “month,” or “yr.”
• on: or throughout: Use particular dates and vary key phrases, equivalent to “Monday,” “February,” or “2023.”

Professional tip: To make use of particular dates, use the MM/DD/YYYY (United States) or YYYY/MM/DD (Worldwide) format.

11. Add notifications for key phrases and phrases.

Managing a selected undertaking? Attempting to maintain tabs on a division or exercise? Adjusting your settings to allow customized notifications is usually a large time saver.

To get notified when a selected phrase or phrase is talked about, begin by deciding on your title from the highest left nook. Then, click on “Preferences” from the drop-down menu. From there, choose “Notifications” and scroll all the way down to “My key phrases.” Within the textual content field, add phrases or phrases that you simply’d prefer to be notified about (ensuring to separate them by commas).

12. Create naming conventions for channels.

Naming your channels in a means that is easy and constant helps you have interaction extra customers. No extra sending an e-mail, texts, AND Slack for each message. As a substitute, you can belief that folks in your group are seeing the content material you want them to see.

To make this occur, be certain channel names are in line with what your group already is aware of. Intelligent names and inside jokes can appear enjoyable at first, however over time they’ll create confusion.

As a substitute, title channels for main departments and matters. Then, use Slack’s default prefixes as a information when it is time to add channels for brand new and extra particular channels and sections.

For extra productiveness ideas, take a look at this information to being extra productive.

For extra fast instructions, sort /shortcuts to open the keyboard shortcuts panel.

14. React with a GIF.

Let’s face it: All of us love GIFs. And because of the Giphy integration, you may share hilarious GIFs along with your coworkers utilizing the /giphy [emotion, word, or phrase] command.

To arrange the Giphy app, go to this web page. From right here, all you will must do is click on “Set up” subsequent to your group title, then click on “Add Giphy Integration.”

Word: Giphy is usually a hit and miss. Typically the GIFs are NSFW or not fairly proper for the scenario. However, when you do not thoughts playing with the outcomes, this hack is straightforward to arrange.

15. Create fast polls with emoji reactions.

Phrases are arduous. Typically it is rather a lot simpler to let our coworkers know the way we really feel by reacting with an emoji. And on Slack, it is simple. Merely hover over a message and choose the smiley face icon with the plus signal to pick out an emoji.

Wish to take issues a step additional? Response emojis make it very easy to shortly ballot your group. This is a enjoyable instance:

16. Add textual content and hyperlink formatting to your Slack messages.

Wish to name out textual content, make edits, show a hyperlink, or share code? Reference the next syntax:

• Slack hyperlink formatting: To share a hyperlink with a preview picture, simply ship a URL in a message. Slack will routinely create a preview until a person has their preview settings turned off.
• Emphasis: To create daring textual content, encompass your phrase or phrase with *asterisks.* To italicize textual content, place _underscores_ round a bit.
• Strikethrough: To strike out sure phrases, use ~tilde~ to encompass the textual content.
• Lists: To create lists, choose “Shift” + “Enter” so as to add a brand new line. So as to add bullet factors, choose Decide+8 (Mac) or Alt+0149 (PC).
• Insert a paragraph break: If you wish to break up phrases with out utilizing an inventory, use a smooth return. As a substitute of hitting enter on the finish of a sentence, which is able to ship the message, maintain shift and faucet the enter key to begin a brand new line.
• Blockquotes: So as to add angle brackets at first of your message for indents and quotes, sort “>” to indent a single line.

17. Edit messages you have already despatched.

We have all mentioned issues we want we might take again. And with Slack, you may — kinda. To shortly edit a message you have despatched in a dialog, press the ↑ arrow key, edit your message, then press “Enter.”

This characteristic is very helpful once you do one thing terribly embarrassing, like use the incorrect type of “their”:

18. Customise your Slack theme.

Whether or not you utilize Slack for various teams and need to keep organized, otherwise you simply need to personalize the appear and feel of your account, you may alter your theme by deciding on your title within the prime left nook.

From the drop-down menu subsequent to your title, choose “Preferences” > “Themes.” From right here, you may discover and choose themes or scroll all the way down to “Customized Theme” to place in your personal HTML colour values.

19. Create your personal emoji.

To get began, click on the emoji icon in any Slack chat window. Then, click on the “Add Emoji” button on the underside left-hand aspect.

Fill out the shape to create your customized emoji. First, you will must add an emoji picture. Then, present a reputation for the icon — that is what you’ll enter to show the emoji.

Slack asks that you simply use a sq. picture no bigger than 128px in width or peak, with a file dimension smaller than 64K. To take away the background from the picture (as seen within the Ryan Gosling instance beneath), take a look at this tutorial.

20. Pull swatches utilizing HTML colour codes.

Collaborating with one other group member on a design undertaking? Make fast colour strategies utilizing HTML colour codes. Once you sort out a code — #F7761F, for instance — you will see a tiny swatch seem, like this:

21. Shake it off with a shruggie.

Do not know the reply? Made slightly mistake? Have to sign to your coworker that you simply really do not know what is going on on at this assembly? Ship ’em a shruggie.

Serving because the “default Web feeling,” a shruggie will say every part that you must say with out saying something in any respect. To drag it up, enter the /shrug command.

22. Replace your profile to point out once you’re OOO.

Whether or not you are OOO on trip or out on parental depart, you may sign this to your coworkers by adjusting your standing on Slack.

To edit your standing, click on your profile within the prime proper nook. Then, click on the “Set a Standing” button to decide on a standing choice or create a novel standing with the “What’s your standing?” field on the prime. Choose your standing, then click on “Save.” It will open a second pop-up window the place you may set the timing to your standing. Click on “Save” once more, and also you’re all set.

23. Use the /collapse and /broaden instructions to open and shut recordsdata.

Weeding your means by means of a sea of GIFs to get to the remark you are searching for? You’ll be able to collapse all inline photographs and video by utilizing the /collapse command.

When that you must reference the visuals once more, merely enter /broaden to make them reappear.

24. Attempt /mute to restrict distractions.

Perhaps you are new and need to study a division, however needn’t take part. Perhaps you are inquisitive about a brand new channel, however aren’t positive how a lot time you will have to affix the dialog. To replace your channels so you will have easy accessibility however do not get distracted by fixed notifications, mute the channel.

To mute, click on on the channel title. Then, click on on the “Get Notifications” button within the middle on the prime of the pop-up. Scroll down and choose “Mute channel.” You may as well sort /mute to silence a channel or DM, or sort /unmute to activate it once more.

25. Play video games on Slack for distant group constructing.

Video games and icebreakers are a strategy to convey members of a group collectively. They might help folks loosen up, making ready them for creativity and collaboration. You should utilize apps like Polly to create trivia video games or different apps to play chess, rock-paper-scissors, and extra.

Wish to be taught extra about Slack?

When the HubSpot group first made the change to Slack, it was arduous to get used to. However as soon as we received extra snug with the platform, we began to comprehend simply how highly effective it truly is.

The extra we used Slack, the higher our discoveries received — GIFs, reminders, recordsdata — they had been all only a click on or two away.

We hope the 25 useful Slack ideas above make it easier to make your conversations extra productive, environment friendly, and enjoyable too.

Editor’s notice: This publish was initially revealed in February 2016 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.