You’re deep in an ongoing Slack conversation with your team, strategizing the next big move, when suddenly—bam!—you realize Alex needs to be in on this.
But wait—do you start a whole new group chat? Should you add them to the existing Slack conversation or summon them with some secret admin powers?
The process is straightforward, whether adding someone to a Slack workspace, pulling them into an ongoing discussion, or talking to them one-on-one. And if you need to get them access to past conversations, you just have to know the right way to add them.
In this guide, we’ll walk through step-by-step instructions to ensure the right people are in the right chat at the right time—so no one misses a beat. Let’s get them in there!
How to Add Someone to a Slack Conversation
Summarize this article for me please⏰ 60-Second Summary
Here’s how you can add a teammate to your Slack conversation:
- Add someone by clicking on the channel or DM
- Select “Invite People” and choose the user to add
- Ensure you have the necessary permissions for private channels
- Add users easily to public channels, but private ones may need admin approval
- Tackle message overload and large teams in Slack effectively, by adding the right people and removing irrelevant ones from the channel
- Use ClickUp for better, more contextual collaboration.
Explore features like ClickUp Chat, Clips, and Whiteboards and watch collaboration soar - Integrate ClickUp with Slack or switch for enhanced project management
- Turn conversations into actionable tasks with ClickUp Chat and customizable templates
Summarize this article for me pleaseUnderstanding Slack
Slack is a communication platform designed to help teams collaborate through channels, direct messages (DMs), and integrations.
While most instant messaging apps have conversations scattered, Slack organizes these discussions into channels based on specific topics, ongoing projects, or team members, making it easy to find the right conversation history when needed.
Businesses widely use it for:
- Real-time communication through instant messaging
- Organized conversations within dedicated channels
- App integrations that streamline workflows, reducing context-switching
- File sharing for documents, images, and other files
- Searchable archives that allow teams to find past conversations, files, and decisions
- Custom notifications to reduce overwhelm
Mastering Slack’s features will ensure your team’s communication strategies remain seamless and effective.
Summarize this article for me pleaseHow to Add Someone to a Slack Conversation
Now that you know what Slack is all about and how it fits into your organization, it’s time to master a key skill: adding someone to a Slack conversation in the correct way.
No more guessing or awkwardly starting a new group chat when you don’t have to! Let’s break down the two best ways to do it.
Adding someone to a Slack Channel
Adding someone to a Slack channel gives them instant access to ongoing discussions, past messages, and key project updates. You no longer need to forward messages to get them in the loop.
Here’s how to do it the right way:
1. Open the channel to which you wish to add a new member.
2. Click the channel name at the top of your screen to open the conversation header.
3. Select “Add people” from the dropdown menu.
4. Enter the team member’s name or email address and click “Add” to include them in the channel.
5. Confirm their access to ensure they can view the conversation history and participate in ongoing discussions.
💡Pro Tip: Anyone can be added to public channels, but private channels require admin approval or access permissions.
For example, if you’re discussing a marketing campaign in a private channel, adding the right team member ensures they have the necessary context to contribute effectively.
Adding someone to a Direct Message
Need to loop someone into a direct message without jumping through hoops? Turning a one-on-one chat into a group conversation is perfect for quick discussions; no need to start a whole new channel.
Just follow these straightforward steps, and you’ll have the right people in the right chat in no time:
1. Open an existing direct message. Navigate to your list of DMs and select the one-on-one conversation where you want to add another person.
2. Now, access the Open conversation details panel. Click on the three-dot icon on the top right of the conversation window to open the menu.
3. In the details panel, look for the Add People button. This will allow you to expand the conversation into a group DM.
4. Search for the person to add. Start typing the name or email address of the person you want to add.
5. Once the person’s name appears, select it and click Next to confirm their addition and finalize the process.
6. A new group chat with the added teammate will now open up. This will keep the direct conversation with the original person intact, ensuring you do not lose any prior messages or sensitive information.
Quick Hack: A good practice is to inform the new participants they’ve been added to a new group. This will avoid confusion and maintain context.
Imagine you are finalizing a proposal with a teammate and need input from your manager. Expanding the DM to a group chat seamlessly integrates your manager into the ongoing conversation, keeping everyone aligned.
👀 Did You Know? Slack was originally a gaming project! Before it became the team communication app we know today, Slack started as an internal messaging tool for a video game called Glitch, created by Stewart Butterfield’s company, Tiny Speck.
Summarize this article for me pleaseCommon Problems and Limitations in Slack
Slack is a great communication tool, but sometimes, using it can feel like you’re drowning in messages, files, and notifications. Let’s look at the common issues that could make Slack feel less like a productivity booster and more like a challenge.
❌ Message overload
Using Slack can quickly become overwhelming with constant message notifications, especially when you’re in multiple channels. It’s easy to lose track of important messages amid the influx of casual chats, updates, and discussions. This can result in missed deadlines or vital information getting buried in the mix.
❌ Limited file management
Managing files in Slack can be frustrating, as there’s no dedicated file storage area. While you upload files to channels, they quickly pile up and become hard to locate later. Searching through old messages to find a specific document or file—mostly possible if you remember the exact name—can take a lot of time.
This makes file retrieval tedious, wasting time and adding to frustration.
❌ Channel clutter
Slack channels can quickly become chaotic and add to the clutter. Even when trying to keep channels organized, locating the right channel in the noise can be a task.
❌ Notification overload
Slack notifications can be a distraction if you’re in many channels or workspaces. The constant pinging can make it harder to focus on deep work. A quick Slack hack is to set custom notifications, allowing only crucial messages to come through. However, you risk losing track of other important messages.
❌ Lack of formal project management features
Slack is great for quick chats and team updates, but it falls short when it comes to tracking tasks and deadlines. There’s no built-in task board, Gantt chart, or structured workflow, so managing projects can get messy. Most teams integrate Slack with other task management tools to keep everything on track.
💡Pro Tip: Slack’s search function will help you find past files and messages, but using specific keywords and filters will give you the best results. Consider organizing your channels and messages to make things easier to search.
📖 Also Read: The Pros and Cons of Slack at Work
Summarize this article for me pleaseThe Best Alternative to Slack
If you’re looking for an alternative to Slack to help you communicate better and integrate with your work, consider ClickUp, the everything app for work.
It’s a truly unified platform that keeps all your work in one place—no more switching between tabs to find the right information. From discussing ideas to implementing them, it’s all here.
📮ClickUp Insight: About 41% of professionals prefer instant messaging apps for team communication. Although tools like Slack offer quick and efficient exchanges, messages are often spread across multiple channels, threads, or direct messages, making it harder to retrieve information later.
With an integrated solution like ClickUp Chat, your chat threads are mapped to specific projects and tasks, keeping your conversations in context and readily available.
Communicate Proactively with ClickUp Chat
ClickUp Chat is your go-to for communicating with your team—not just for conversations. You can work from within it—from Emails and Tasks to Calendars, and Whiteboards.
Unlike standalone messaging apps, ClickUp Chat integrates directly with your tasks, allowing you to turn new conversations into action instantly.
You can assign tasks, set due dates, and link messages to projects without leaving the chat. With everything in one place, team collaboration stays organized, efficient, and focused.
Record Screen Videos on the Fly with ClickUp Clips
Need to explain a process quickly or work asynchronously on a project? ClickUp’s Clips let you record and share screen recordings, making it easy to provide step-by-step guidance without long-written explanations.
Share a clip to provide visual feedback on designs or reports and embed it directly within tasks to keep everything organized and easily accessible for collaboration.
Say goodbye to messy email threads and cluttered channels that make finding tasks feel like a scavenger hunt.
🧠Fun Fact: An estimated 333 billion emails are sent and received daily worldwide. Digging for relevant information without a centralized space for your work isn’t child’s play!
Track and assign tasks easily with ClickUp Assign Comments
With ClickUp’s Assign Comments feature, giving clear, actionable feedback is effortless. Need a teammate to review a document? Just drop a comment and assign it to them.
You can also mention colleagues to ensure they see key details, keeping everyone on the same page. Once the feedback is implemented, simply mark the comment as resolved—no follow-ups are needed!
Collaborate and Brainwithstorm on ClickUp Whiteboards
For teams that rely on brainstorming and visual planning, ClickUp Whiteboards provide an interactive canvas where you can map out ideas and workflows in real time.
Use mind maps to break down complex projects into clear, visual structures. Plan marketing campaigns effortlessly with a simple drag-and-drop interface. And when inspiration strikes, convert brainstorming ideas into actionable tasks in just one click!
ClickUp Internal Communication Strategy Template
Looking to improve internal communication? The ClickUp Internal Communication Strategy Template helps you build clear workflows and keep collaboration smooth across teams—no more guesswork or misalignment!
This fully customizable template helps you define goals, streamline messaging, and track progress all in one place. Whether fostering transparency between leadership and teams or improving department-wide communication, this template provides the tools to keep everyone aligned and engaged.
How to Switch from Slack to ClickUp?
Switching from Slack to ClickUp is easier than you think—and you don’t have to give up Slack completely! The integration ensures smooth collaboration for teams relying on Slack while allowing you to create and manage ClickUp tasks directly from Slack.
Slack 🤝ClickUp
To make the switch, start by importing your Slack channels into ClickUp and organizing conversations into relevant spaces. Use ClickUp Chat to centralize communication, connecting discussions to tasks and projects. Assign comments, set due dates, and track progress—all in one place.
Imagine your product team shifting sprint planning from scattered Slack messages to ClickUp’s Agile board—suddenly, tasks become clearer, and workflows run smoother. Or imagine your marketing team organizing campaigns in ClickUp’s task lists, where assignments and deadlines are prominent.
No more hunting through endless messages to find what matters! By bringing everything into one platform, your team gains better visibility, efficiency, and collaboration—without the chaos.
Did You Know you can increase productivity by 30% using ClickUp and Slack together?
Here’s how to do it:
With ClickUp’s Slack integration, teams can connect both platforms, turning Slack messages into tasks, comments, or reminders with just a few clicks.
- Create new tasks: In any channel, simply type /click up new to quickly create a new task right from your Slack feed
- Unfurl tasks: When task links are posted in Slack, they’ll be instantly enriched with detail, context, and the ability to perform actions with the task
- Manage tasks: Dropdown actions let you manage due dates, priorities, statuses, and more right from your Slack channels
- Turn messages into tasks and comments: Create tasks and comments from messages! Click the “more actions” option from any Slack message to add them to ClickUp
- Get notifications: ClickUp can instantly send notifications about tasks to the Slack channels of your choice. This includes tasks created, comments added, and even status changes
Summarize this article for me pleaseDitch the App Overload—ClickUp Does It All
Moving from Slack to ClickUp isn’t just about switching tools but working smarter.
Instead of juggling multiple apps for communication, task management, and project planning, ClickUp brings everything into one place.
No more endless app-switching or scattered conversations—it’s the best Slack alternative.
With ClickUp, your team gets better organization, streamlined workflows, and clear project visibility—all without losing the ease of real-time collaboration and communication.
If you’re ready for a more connected, efficient way to work, give ClickUp a try today!
Everything you need to stay organized and get work done.
