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:

1. 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

2. 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.