Slack & Teams Etiquette
Master professional communication standards for workplace messaging platforms.
📘 Reading Lesson
Lesson Notes
Read through the key concepts before you try the challenge.
Real-World Scenario
TOR Tech uses Microsoft Teams for internal communication. Your manager sends you a message asking you to respond to a teammate's question in the #projects channel. You are new to the platform and need to know the rules before you type anything public.
Professional Messaging in the Workplace
Workplace chat tools like Slack and Microsoft Teams are fast, but fast does not mean casual. How you communicate here shapes how coworkers and managers perceive you:
- Channels vs DMs — use public channels for team updates and project discussions; use DMs for private or sensitive conversations
- Chat vs email — use chat for quick questions and real-time updates; use email for formal communications and external contacts
- Reaction etiquette — a thumbs-up or checkmark reaction is a professional way to acknowledge a message without cluttering the channel
- Notification settings — set your status (available, away, do not disturb) so teammates know when you can respond
- Keeping messages professional — avoid all-caps, excessive exclamation points, and slang that could be misread
- Thread your replies — respond inside a thread to keep channels readable and organized
Responsible Use
Workplace chat platforms are monitored by employers. Treat every message the way you would treat an email — do not say anything in a channel or DM that you would not be comfortable with your manager reading.
AI Assist
💡 AI Task: Ask ChatGPT — "What are the top 5 rules for professional communication in a workplace Slack or Teams channel?" Review the response and think about which rules you might already break without realizing it.
Knowledge Check
Where should you post a project update that is relevant to your entire team?
Challenge
Apply what you've learned in this lesson.
Write 3 example workplace chat messages: (1) asking a teammate a question about a project deadline, (2) updating the team that a task has been completed, and (3) responding professionally to feedback from your manager in a public channel.