Choosing the right channel

Slota gives you three ways to tell people things. Using the wrong one is how information gets missed.

Direct message

One person, something specific to them. "Can you cover Thursday?" It arrives as a notification and expects a reply.

Group conversation

A team that needs to talk to each other, not just be told. Shift handovers, a running thread for the weekend crew.

Newsfeed announcement

One-to-many, no reply expected, and you need to know who has seen it. Policy changes, opening hours, anything you may later need to prove was communicated. Read tracking is the reason to use it.

The schedule is not a message

Publishing a schedule already notifies everyone assigned. Posting "the rota is up" as well trains people to ignore both. Let the publish do its job.

Practices

• Target announcements at the location or group they concern. An announcement that goes to everyone and applies to twelve people is how people learn to skip the newsfeed.
• Use read tracking to follow up individually, not to name and shame publicly.
• Anything time-critical for one person is a DM, not a post. Posts are read when people get to them.
• If Employees can start conversations is off, remember that staff cannot reach you first through Messages. Make sure another route exists.