Communication Guidelines

Effective & Responsible Communication Guide

Summary:

Upholding these guidelines will enhance the consistency, predictability, and effectiveness of our communication.

Tone and Context: Recognize that tone and context can be easily misunderstood in text communication, therefore it important to most important assume best intent.

Availability: Make Your Availability Clear

Status Updates: Use status updates to inform others when you are unavailable or when to expect delayed responses.

Disconnect and Recharge: When not working, consider logging out or setting your status to Do Not Disturb.

Communication Threads & Messages:

Respond in Threads: Respond to existing messages within their threads.

Start New Threads: For new messages, start a new thread. Highlight important information or action items using bold text and break up content with line breaks or bullets.

Re-read Messages: Re-read your messages before sending them.

Provide Polite Guidance: If someone deviates from these guidelines, politely guide them on how to improve their communication.

Responsible Use: Use @mentions responsibly, especially when mentioning groups or in large/reserved channels like #announcements and #general.

Default to Public Channels:

General Communication: Use public channels for general communication.

Private Groups and DMs: Reserve private groups and DMs for sensitive information or to prevent spamming public channels.

Embracing Text Communication:

Adapting to text-based communication requires a mental shift, especially for those accustomed to in-person meetings. Mastering the written word in a remote setting is crucial for effective communication.

Everyone is a Moderator:

If you notice concerning behavior in Slack, issues, merge requests, videos, emails, or any other forum, respectfully address it directly with the individual in a 1:1 format. If uncomfortable doing so, reach out to your direct manager or People Business Partner.

Adherence to Policies:

Always adhere to our Anti-Harassment Policy and Code of Conduct to ensure a comfortable work environment for everyone.

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Additional Resources

Slack help on

channels, sending messages, and other basics⁠

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Slack

tips and tricks⁠

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