Stupid Simple Mac Tips #62 – Slack – STOP Losing Context!
This month we are focusing on using Slack – the popular messaging platform for businesses.
Normally, I focus on key, simple features you should START using with simple to follow steps.
I’ve flipped it around this month and I’ll tell you what to 🛑✋🏼 [STOP] doing with Slack!
Stop losing context when replying to your team members!
This happens quite often, especially to “newbies” in Slack.
You will have the good intention of replying to a message, but you inadvertently reply in the general channel, as opposed to the individual message.
This loses context, since other may not know what post you are replying to. Easy to do.
To make conversations clear, reply to the individual thread (a list of comments that roll up to an initial or parent message.)
Threads are one of the most useful features in Slack and is a feature that is not available in text messages.
Replying within a thread will allow two, three or even your entire team to have a conversation within that thread, keeping the topic clear – even if replies come in sporadically. The entire thread is kept together, similar to ‘conversations’ in Outlook.
To reply to a thread, follow these four easy steps:
- Hover over the message you would like to reply to
- Click the Reply in action icon (it looks like two horizontal lines)
- Type your reply
- Send your message
Here is a bonus tip for dealing with threads: Slack compiles all threads into a handy “All Threads” view that lights up whenever someone responds to any of your threads.
When a new thread is started, or new comment is added to an existing thread, that you are part of, this area will light up!
Makes it extra helpful when you are waiting for an answer or waiting on specific information to be shared.
We’ve just begun, stop in next week to learn another thing to STOP doing!
