Social messaging programs like Slack are essential for the workplace communication experience. Slack has long been the popular choice for teams to communicate, share files, and collaborate. But with unified communications gaining popularity, how can employees show their personality in their Slack conversations? With the simple use of character choices (emojis), employees can showcase their fun side while effectively working.
Choosing the Right Words to Communicate Effectively in Slack
When delivering a message to a target audience, the right wording is crucial for effective communication.
What is the Message?
Before sending a message in Slack, you must understand the message itself and what you are trying to pass along. Here are a few questions to ask yourself if you are stuck on choosing the right words:
- Is my message time-sensitive?
- Is this sensitive information?
- Is it a formal or informal message?
- Who is my target audience? My coworker, my team, or the whole company?
- Do I need to reference my information?
- Do I expect responses from my sent message?
- Is the message general or specific content?
Once you know the intentions of the message and the recipient, you can decide if a special character is an additive or a hindrance to the message.
Communication Culture
When choosing to use special characters in your messages on Slack, you need to assess your company’s communication culture. If you work in a professional law firm, you may refrain from a crying emoji, but a thumbs-up emoji effectively lets your coworker know you are on schedule for your court preparations.
The Power of Emojis in Slack Messages
Slack emojis are more than just cute faces – they can be useful tools. Emojis can help make your team conversations more productive, improve your message formatting, add a way to react quickly, and even serve as comments on channel messages.
Additionally, Slack emojis help reduce the work of typing an entire reply. Instead, the response process can be done with just one simple emoji. For example, the emoji clapping hands can show your encouragement for a message stating that your coworker just closed another deal.
How to Use Formating to Make Your Messages Standout
You may choose to avoid using emojis when formatting your messages, as they could distract from your overall message or tasks that need to be completed.
Use Sub-Headers
Sub-headers are similar to headers as they provide the section’s main idea below. Similar to how this article is organized, you have the main idea (How to Use Formating to Make Your Messages Standout) and the sub-header (Use Sub-Headers) for a more manageable piece of information. Sub-headers can make your content easier to read, and they can also make your content more scannable.
Lists, Tables, and Graphs
- Lists: Lists should be easy to read and understand, such as the example in this section
- Tables: The order of tables should follow a logical progression
- Graphs: Graphs can organize information into categories, indicate priority, enumerate advantages and disadvantages, and more
Bolding and Italicizing Text
Bolded text will capture your readers’ interest, but you should selectively use it throughout your message to ensure it looks neat while providing the necessary emphasis. Choosing to italicize text will help differentiate between names, instructions, and links. But if you use these options too often, they become similar to regular typeface and will lose their importance.
Tips for Sending Files and Links in Slack Messages
Slack allows you to send files of up to 1GB at a time. Here are a few ways you can send files and links in Slack messages:
- Upload Files: You can upload files to your shared team workspace, ensuring all of your teammates can access the files at their convenience.
- Drag & Drop: You can drag and drop files into the messaging section of Slack, then click send. This option is great for a quick sharing of documents to a single person or a whole team.
- Share or File: You can browse the files you want to share by clicking the Share icon or the File browser button, which will allow you to find the files you want to share manually.
- Export: To share documents outside of Slack, create an external link by clicking the Three Dots icon on the top right. Next, while hovering over the file, click on the external link, and create the link for which you will copy and send to the desired recipient.
Providing an emoji as a reaction to a file being sent to you is appropriate so that the sender knows you received the message and were able to open it with ease. A smile, thumbs-up, high-five, etc., are all appropriate emojis.
Strategies for Dealing with Difficult Conversations in Slack
There will come a time when you disagree with a coworker, boss, or even the direction of a project, and you have to be able to voice your opinion healthily. We suggest avoiding emojis at all costs and the following:
- Candid and Respectful Feedback: A culture of candidness should be expected and respected. Don’t sugarcoat your reprehensions and demands because they can be worse than not responding, keeping the recipient confused or in the dark.
- Communication Techniques: Choose communication techniques that foster open dialogue. Be patient, prepared, and practice empathy.
- Follow-Up: Be open to receiving feedback after delivering your information. Also, be prepared for follow-ups with the recipient to help clear any unresolved matters.
Avoiding emojis when dealing with difficult conversations lets your coworker or superior know you are serious about your job and the presented issues. Now, if a coworker is venting about a project and sends a frustrated emoji, you may respond with a thumbs down emoji and the question, “how can I help?”
Conclusion
While Slack’s character choices offer a quick way to communicate at work, they also allow users to express themselves uniquely. Be wise in your character choices to avoid hot water, but have fun with your day-to-day interactions as you work to complete tasks and build team rapport.