Incorporating an external group into Slack is an advantageous tool that enables collaboration and communication with external teams and organizations. In this article, I will walk you through the steps of adding an outside group to Slack, offering my personal insights and advice throughout the process.
Introduction
As an avid Slack user, I often find myself needing to collaborate with individuals and teams outside of my immediate organization. Fortunately, Slack offers a seamless way to connect and communicate with these external groups. By adding an outside group to Slack, you can easily share channels, messages, and files, fostering collaboration and efficiency across different organizations.
Step 1: Set Up Slack
If you haven’t already, start by creating a Slack workspace for your organization. This will serve as the hub where all your channels and conversations will take place. Once you have your workspace set up, you can move on to adding an outside group.
Step 2: Invite the Outside Group
To add an outside group to Slack, you need to invite them to join your workspace. Begin by navigating to the Slack workspace and clicking on the “Settings & Administration” option in the sidebar.
Next, select “Manage apps” and search for the “Share Channels” app. Install the app and follow the prompts to configure it.
Once the app is installed, go back to the main Slack interface. Click on the “Invite People” button and enter the email addresses or domains of the outside group members you want to add. Slack will send them an invitation to join your workspace.
Step 3: Share Channels
After the outside group members have accepted the invitation and joined your workspace, it’s time to share channels with them. Sharing channels allows both your organization and the outside group to collaborate in a specific channel.
To share a channel, click on the channel name in the sidebar and select “More” from the drop-down menu. Choose the “Add an outside group” option, and then select the group you want to add from the list. Hit the “Invite” button to send an invitation to the outside group.
Step 4: Communicate and Collaborate
Now that the outside group is added to your Slack workspace and invited to the shared channels, you can start communicating and collaborating with them. You can send messages, share files, and even schedule meetings through Slack.
Remember to be mindful of the different perspectives and workflows that may exist between your organization and the outside group. Take the time to establish clear communication guidelines and expectations to ensure a smooth collaboration experience.
Conclusion
Adding an outside group to Slack is a powerful way to foster collaboration and streamline communication between different organizations. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily connect and collaborate with external teams and enjoy the benefits of a seamless and efficient workflow.