Community + Team Work = Slack
Learn how Slack can help you get work done while building relationships with people in your team
To foster a culture of collaboration and innovation in the WWF network, we’re prototyping Slack as a platform that will help people across the organization work together in teams, share information and create space for informal dialogue and learning that leads to action.
For reference, we began using Slack months ago as a space for a team of “Pandapreneurs” to collaborate and work together across regions, internal teams and working groups. Since then, other internal teams have been added to due to expressed interest in joining, from Knowledge Management to Innovation Ventures, the Africa Energy group, etc. In the months ahead we’ll begin on-boarding teams who are interested in creating space for connecting and working together across distances in a more transparent way.
Check out these first-hand reflections from Steven To (Change Management Specialist with WWF Africa) on how he uses Slack to organize his work in teams and get things done while creating a culture of openness, trust and playfulness.
What makes Slack different from platforms like Yammer, and what value do you think it adds to the WWF Network?
- Steven: I think Slack brings a new way of collaboration to WWF Network. Email is sometimes too serious. Imagine Slack as a virtual pantry or coffee place where people come take a rest. It’s often these informal chats that give rise to great ideas and foster bonding and collaboration among teams
How do you use Slack to collaborate with teams and get work done?
- Steven: I have used Slack for a start-up I founded starting 3 years ago. There is a lead for each channel and we basically upload documents and discuss in each channel. We still have our work meetings but Slack becomes the way to communicate when we are not formally meeting.
What are the factors and conditions that lead to active engagement on a Slack channel?
- Steven: Needless to say, for a community to thrive, everyone needs to participate. Really think about it as a virtual pantry. Just go there for 5 minutes or so like you would go to Facebook when you want to “slack”. Do not make the platform too formal and serious. It’s supposed to be a fun place. So share more stuff that you won’t when you send emails — any news, magazine articles, funny pictures, inspirations etc.
What is your favourite feature on Slack?
- Steven: I like a #Random channel that my team created. We posted so much funny pictures there and shared lots of laughter.
If you want to onboard your team to Slack, we would love to help. Email benjamesriddle@gmail.com to get started.
