This round of pet peeves is focused on Slack tool. I have a love/hate relationship with this tool. This seems to shock a number of people; so I’ll share what annoys me.
- Asynchronous communication: I’m an extrovert that thinks by talking or even more by engaging during a discussion. So when I get online and I’m 100 messages deep into the conversation that is gone in various directions, this usually results in my not participating, responding with a me also or ignoring it all together. I understand the value in when we all have different schedules, etc but this mode of conversations works wonders for me on updates/quick questions…not on deep conversations.
- Too many: I constantly say “no please do not add me to slack”. I’m already on an account for Agile For All, Agile Alliance Board, Agile Alliance Global Board, Agile2018 program team, and Agile2018 track team. Now two of them are done now – so maybe I can consider adding into the Scrum Alliance board or TBR board but I already struggle to keep up with the messages. Or maybe I’ll enjoy only have a couple to experiment if my participation increases.
- Techniques: After numerous years, I have a great system with making sure nothing drops in email. I have attempted the various techniques in slack to do the same but I haven’t found a combination that works well for me yet. I’m still trying but I constantly feel like I dropped the ball on responding/doing/etc a request made in slack.
- Channels: I originally really like the idea of channels to help organize the information. Yet, I can’t tell you how many times I have put something in a channel not realizing someone wasn’t in the channel and missed it (or I’m the one who didn’t know about a channel).
Now there are things I do like (we have a feed with mentions of anyone from AFA channel, direct quick messaging, quick updates of what each other are doing each day, and a few more)…so I do understand and experience the value – but for me, this tool is a hard way to truly communicate and feel connected to people, hence my pet peeves.
As much as these are pet peeves, they are mine and as a leader that doesn’t mean I get to simply judge others. Instead, these serve as opportunities for others and for me to grow. If this stuff was easy, I wouldn’t be sharing.
What are your slack pet peeves?
