Short-form workplace communication.
WHAT DIFFERS FROM EMAIL
Expectation of speed Less formality Public channels Easily lost history
WHAT TO PUT IN A MESSAGE
The question or request, immediately.
WHAT NOT TO SEND
A greeting alone, then waiting.
WHY
It costs the recipient a wait for no reason.
WHAT TO DO INSTEAD
Greet and ask in one message.
WHAT TO USE THREADS FOR
Keeping a discussion together.
WHY
It prevents a channel becoming unreadable.
WHAT TO CONSIDER BEFORE POSTING IN A CHANNEL
Whether everyone there needs it.
WHAT TO USE DIRECT MESSAGES FOR
Things concerning one person.
WHAT TO USE CHANNELS FOR
Anything others benefit from seeing.
WHY THAT MATTERS
Decisions in private messages are invisible and lost.
WHAT TO AVOID
Long documents pasted as messages Important decisions made only in chat Expecting immediate replies
WHAT TO DO WITH DECISIONS REACHED IN CHAT
Record them somewhere durable.
WHY
Chat history is difficult to search and eventually expires.
WHAT TO BE CAREFUL WITH
Tone, which is easily misread Humour across cultures Messages sent outside working hours
WHY THAT LAST ONE
It sets an expectation of availability.
WHAT TO USE INSTEAD
Scheduled sending, where available.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH AS A TEAM
Which channel is for what, and response expectations.
