25 Slack Tricks to Make You and Your Group Extra Efficient

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

Slack is able to a lot that it is onerous to uncover what options you actually needs to be utilizing. To assist, we put collectively a few of the greatest Slack ideas and methods beneath.

From creating to-do lists to customizing your theme, these professional ideas are price displaying off to your staff. Scan the complete record of Slack methods or soar to the part you are in search of:

Slack is a good way to attach and collaborate. However it may possibly take time to study essentially the most useful options. A newbie’s information to Slack is the perfect place to start out.

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 influence anybody else in your staff, so you may arrange 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 possibly can choose from the present choices or add a singular emoji and title for a customized part.

Be aware: You possibly can 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 targeted work time.

Completely 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 staff so you will get the targeted 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 can even set a notification schedule. That is additional useful for groups that work throughout totally different time zones. It helps everybody perceive if you’re out there to reply shortly, and when getting a response might take extra time.

3. Pin messages and hyperlinks for straightforward recall.

Slack will also be the digital bulletin board on the heart of your workplace. Once you “pin” a message, you are saving it for the complete staff in that dialog or channel. This makes it straightforward for everybody to revisit essential 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 right down to “Pin to channel.” The chosen message background will change shade, and show a message on the prime that claims “Pinned by [your name].” You can even use the highest bar to seek for pinned posts.

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

Because the variety of channels you subscribe to grows, you might be in search of methods to chop down on overwhelm. Some select to mute channels, however that may imply lacking essential 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 correct, then scroll to “Present” > “Unread channels solely.”

5. Join your instruments to Slack.

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

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

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

If in case you have a Google Drive hyperlink you wish 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 wish to join Google Drive for future use, go to the Google Drive app web page. From right here, click on “Configure” subsequent to your staff 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 reveals you find out how to take advantage of your Slack integration.

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

Set a Slackbot reminder that can assist you maintain monitor of what you must get finished. To get began, merely enter /remind into the textual content field, adopted by your activity. (Be aware: Solely it is possible for you to to see the command and the reminder.)

You possibly can 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 overview your record of reminders, merely use the command /remind record. From there, you may mark sure duties as full or delete those you not want.

7. Rapidly ship a personal message utilizing the /msg command.

Typically we discover ourselves with questions that decision for the eye of everybody in a selected channel. You recognize, essential issues resembling, “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 personal message. For instance, as soon as you already know Steve is free to seize a chunk to eat, use the next command to shortly open up a personal message to hash out the main points: /msg @consumer [your message].

8. Leap to current conversations in seconds.

For those who’ve bought a extremely large staff, it is possible that you simply’re concerned with fairly a number of Slack channels. To shortly and simply change from a channel to a personal message again to a distinct channel, hit ⌘ + Okay (Mac) or Ctrl + Okay (Home windows and Linux).

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

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

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

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

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

10. Conduct superior searches.

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

Channels and Direct Messages

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

Messages or Information From a Particular Particular person

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

Hyperlinks, Saved Gadgets, and Emoji Reactions

You possibly can slender your search to messages that comprise a URL, messages you’ve saved, or messages that comprise 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 “12 months.”
• on: or throughout: Use particular dates and vary key phrases, resembling “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 venture? Attempting to maintain tabs on a division or exercise? Adjusting your settings to allow customized notifications generally is a large time saver.

To get notified when a selected phrase or phrase is talked about, begin by choosing your title from the highest left nook. Then, click on “Preferences” from the drop-down menu. From there, choose “Notifications” and scroll right 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 electronic mail, texts, AND Slack for each message. As a substitute, you can belief that individuals in your staff are seeing the content material you want them to see.

To make this occur, ensure channel names are in line with what your staff already is aware of. Intelligent names and inside jokes can appear enjoyable at first, however over time they will 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 together 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 staff title, then click on “Add Giphy Integration.”

Be aware: Giphy generally is a hit and miss. Typically the GIFs are NSFW or not fairly proper for the state of affairs. However, in the event you do not thoughts playing with the outcomes, this hack is simple to arrange.

15. Create fast polls with emoji reactions.

Phrases are onerous. Typically it is quite a bit simpler to let our coworkers understand how 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 staff. Here 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 mechanically create a preview except a consumer 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 mushy 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 start out a brand new line.
• Blockquotes: So as to add angle brackets initially of your message for indents and quotes, sort “>” to indent a single line.

17. Edit messages you have already despatched.

We have all stated 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 function is particularly helpful if you do one thing terribly embarrassing, like use the mistaken type of “their”:

18. Customise your Slack theme.

Whether or not you employ Slack for various teams and wish to keep organized, otherwise you simply wish to personalize the appear and feel of your account, you may modify your theme by choosing 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 right down to “Customized Theme” to place in your individual HTML shade values.

19. Create your individual 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 facet.

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 measurement 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 shade codes.

Collaborating with one other staff member on a design venture? Make fast shade ideas utilizing HTML shade 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 a bit of mistake? Must sign to your coworker that you simply really don’t know what is going on on at this assembly? Ship ’em a shruggie.

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

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

Whether or not you are OOO on trip or out on parental go away, 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 singular 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 on your standing. Click on “Save” once more, and also you’re all set.

23. Use the /collapse and /increase instructions to open and shut information.

Weeding your means via a sea of GIFs to get to the remark you are in search of? You possibly can collapse all inline pictures and video by utilizing the /collapse command.

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

24. Strive /mute to restrict distractions.

Possibly you are new and wish to find out about a division, however need not take part. Possibly you are interested in a brand new channel, however aren’t positive how a lot time you will have to hitch the dialog. To replace your channels so you could 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 heart on the prime of the pop-up. Scroll down and choose “Mute channel.” You can even sort /mute to silence a channel or DM, or sort /unmute to activate it once more.

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

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

Wish to study extra about Slack?

When the HubSpot staff first made the change to Slack, it was onerous to get used to. However as soon as we bought 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 bought — GIFs, reminders, information — they had been all only a click on or two away.

We hope the 25 helpful Slack ideas above assist you to make your conversations extra productive, environment friendly, and enjoyable too.

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