Connecting with partners and clients through Slack
Slack has just undergone a rebrand of one of their cooler features. Slack Connect is the new craze; you'll probably see it in your Slack dashboard if you're an admin.
I. Context:
- Slack Connect is an all-encompassing term to describe ways you can communicate with another Workspace/organization.
- Slack had these features before; however, they've given them a brand new coat of paint.
There are two main ways to connect with external organizations:
- Adding them as single-channel guest
- Great if the member might be a student, contractor or does not have a paid Slack plan.
- Only workspace admins or owners can invite or manage guest accounts
- Requires the guest to log in to the host Workspace
- Only the host organization has access to the communication and files when the guest account expires
- Setting up a Shared Channel
- Requires both organizations to be on a paid plan
- Requires the admin on both organizations to approve the channel
- I've had an easier time with the first approach (Adding each member as a guest). It allows large organizations to avoid lengthy internal procedures and get collaborating with their team in literally seconds.
- People from other companies can collaborate in the chat right away from their Slack Workspace, where they spend most of their time.
- Each company keeps a record of the communication and files after the channel is disconnected.
II: Let's build rapport
No matter which of the two options mentioned above you select, Slack will provide one key over email. Rapport is easy to build via a messaging platform.
- Jokes, Superbowl commentary, and the general "how was your weekend" convo is way more natural over a chat platform than others. At least for me.
If you have a key partner or lead, connecting via Slack will allow you to message counterparts outside of the group workspace directly. Just like a text message, so take advantage, comment on their profile picture, complain about your boss (or maybe not) or say Hello! and ask about their weekend.
III: Keep the conversation going
A shared channel allows you to move deals and partnerships forward. Save time on the following:
- Organizing your next meeting
- Going over details in mutual documentation in real-time
- Asking that easy question, you don't want to send an email about
Slack has created a one-spot repository with a search feature, documentation sharing, and both teams' ability to involve key people in the conversation. All in all a better way to communicate.