#effective

Don’t Hide Useful Conversations in Private Messages ### Article summary * What happens when you converse in public? * Here's why people go private. * Make it safe for public discussions. * Sometimes, you have to go private. Every team I’ve been on lately has communicated through Slack. And I mean _every_ team—even the client teams who otherwise run an entirely corporate IT stack. Slack is the place where people hash things out, right up until they jump on a Zoom meeting. Slack is also the place where valuable information goes to vanish into a massive black hole. This information drains away because people drift toward conversing in direct messages. ## What happens when you converse in public? Conversing in public is like having a conversation in an office like Atomic’s. Other people, both on teams and off, may overhear. When they overhear, they have the opportunity to both learn from a conversation and contribute. Systems like Slack also give a key advantage to public conversations: they become searchable. In practice, this often means that people who come by later can find out what happened in the past with some part of their work, and make smarter decisions about what they’re doing today. ## Here’s why people go private. Fixing this problem isn’t as simple as just laying down a rule that everyone must discuss everything publicly. Understanding why people go private is key. The simplest reason conversations slip into DMs is that people simply tend to think of their conversations as one-on-one affairs, not realizing the value of holding them where more people can see them. But there are other reasons that people might prefer to go private. More troubling is when people take conversations to other channels because they don’t feel it’s safe to hold them publicly. That’s generally not their problem. That’s others around them creating that problem, by not making it safe. ## Make it safe for public discussions. Emotional intelligence is one of the key skills for _everyone_ who participates in not just Slack, but any tool where conversation is a feature. Simply thinking before you speak goes a long way. But there are also many other things you can do—and even leverage some private conversations to do it: * Take the time to _really_ understand something before replying. This is especially important as tools are increasingly rolling out LLM-driven summaries—which, in my experience, have poor track records at getting folks’ meaning precisely right. Go to the source—directly if necessary—to make sure your understanding is complete. * Think about the importance of your reply before you make it. Does this conversation need to have you involved? Will the impact be serious if you aren’t? Consider: could the way it unfolds lead to something great if you let it go? * When someone comes up with a great idea, make sure they know you think so. When you share that idea more broadly, be sure to give them credit. * Understand that everyone has different experiences that may lead them to interact with others differently. Make space for that. * Assume good intent. In my experience, most people working on teams want to do good work. Assume they’re trying their best. Be kind with feedback, which more likely should be a one-on-one conversation. Proritizing emotional intelligence will go a long way, and can often lead you to leverage the skills above. ## Sometimes, you have to go private. Some situations do call for a private conversation. When they do, and if you have consent, try to surface public learnings from private conversations afterward—either on your own or by encouraging others. This way, others can learn from them too. Conference-call conversations, like on Zoom, are also something that are intrinsically private to the parties involved. Encourage people to share out their learnings from these conversations more broadly. Videos, transcripts, and sometimes summaries (watching out for accuracy!) can be helpful, but not as helpful as real people sharing what they found important from a conversation. When you make it safe to have conversations in public, share why you think everyone can benefit from public discussion, and—this is key— _demonstrate_ your commitment to everyone you work with, you can encourage a better culture where they’re all more informed. For today—and for tomorrow. slackeffective communication Mattie Behrens They/them. Software Consultant & Developer at Atomic Object Ann Arbor. Loves computer networks and correctness in software development. Always digging for the hidden assumption. All Posts → ### Related Posts * Effective communication ## Stop Hedging: Why Directness and Clear Objectives Matter More Than Polish * Effective communication ## Know Your Audience and Cut the Noise: Executive Storytelling That Actually Works * Effective communication ## Stop Sending “Syncs” and Start Sending Clarity

1 week ago

Don’t Hide Useful Conversations in Private Messages Every team I’ve been on lately has communicated through Slack. And I mean every team—even the client teams who otherwise run an entirely co...

#Effective #communication #effective #communication #slack

Origin | Interest | Match

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Verimetrik (English)

@verimetrik-eng.bsky.social

1 week ago

Real Effective Exchange Rate, Feb'26 - PPI based real effective exchange rate index increased 0,2 points to 100,06 and CPI based real effective exchange rate index increased 1,0 points to 103,17.

#Türkiye #real #effective #exchange #PPI #CPI

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FunctionalProgramming

@functionalprogramming.activitypub.awakari.com.ap.brid.gy

1 week ago

5 Key Metrics Used in AI Benchmarking In production environments, AI systems are judged by operational reliability, regulatory exposure, and measurable business performance, not by experimental pro...

#Latest #News #business #coaching #effective […]

[Original post on smallbusinesscoach.org]

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FunctionalProgramming

@functionalprogramming.activitypub.awakari.com.ap.brid.gy

1 week ago

5 Key Metrics Used in AI Benchmarking In production environments, AI systems are judged by operational reliability, regulatory exposure, and measurable business performance, not by experimental pro...

#Latest #News #business #coaching #effective […]

[Original post on smallbusinesscoach.org]

0 0 0 0

@2rzikkbou3ntafnir2qmmse0gwz.activitypub.awakari.com.ap.brid.gy

1 week ago

Hidden Risks That Can Hurt Your Small Business Operations You probably spend a massive chunk of your week putting out fires that everyone can easily see. In this article, we will discuss some hidde...

#Latest #News #business #coaching #effective […]

[Original post on smallbusinesscoach.org]

1 0 0 0

@2rzikkbou3ntafnir2qmmse0gwz.activitypub.awakari.com.ap.brid.gy

1 week ago

Hidden Risks That Can Hurt Your Small Business Operations You probably spend a massive chunk of your week putting out fires that everyone can easily see. In this article, we will discuss some hidde...

#Latest #News #business #coaching #effective […]

[Original post on smallbusinesscoach.org]

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acemaxx analytics

@acemaxx.bsky.social

2 weeks ago

If the objective is #growth: public investment (infrastructure, energy grid, digital), domestic demand expansion and industrial policy for #green transition would support #effective #demand.

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Miss Kitty 🌈🌈🌈

@misskitty.art

2 weeks ago

#RealityCheck
Do you remember book about level 5 leaders? Still a level 4 leader. That's one that's #effective but very heavily self dependent and the organization #reflects that dependency. America didn't train level five. We trained level four. Personalities. We are stuck on fucking entertainment.

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Miss Kitty 🌈🌈🌈

@misskitty.art

2 weeks ago

But it's pretty hard to argue with me about the #methodology I have proposed for ending #societal #ills. It matches every #morality #system in history. And it's #financially #responsible and far more #effective than anything that's ever been done anywhere. Period. I have good reason to be confident.

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documentarian historian archivist photojournalist fumiko mifune

@letmygaysdivorce.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

the only #effective therapy for treatment resistant depression

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Classifieds Marketing

@studioclassifieds.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

Empowering Healthcare Leadership: How CEOs Can Drive Growth Through Effective Content Marketingclassifiedsmarketing.com/empowering-healthcare-le... #Marketing #CEOs #Content #Drive #Effective #Empowering #growt

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@2rzikkbou3ntafnir2qmmse0gwz.activitypub.awakari.com.ap.brid.gy

3 weeks ago

Small Businesses: Cybersecurity. What You Really Need to Know You may have read the messages about cybercrime, as an owner of a small business, but you may believe that it will not apply to you. Th...

#Latest #News #business #coaching #effective […]

[Original post on smallbusinesscoach.org]

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@2rzikkbou3ntafnir2qmmse0gwz.activitypub.awakari.com.ap.brid.gy

3 weeks ago

Small Businesses: Cybersecurity. What You Really Need to Know You may have read the messages about cybercrime, as an owner of a small business, but you may believe that it will not apply to you. Th...

#Latest #News #business #coaching #effective […]

[Original post on smallbusinesscoach.org]

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Misha da Vinci (@mishadavinci) Attention is being harvested. Intelligence is being externalized. Identity is being shaped by algorithms. Agency is quietly eroding. Becoming sovereign is your only effective response.

3 weeks ago

Reduce SaaS Failed Payments Before They Turn Into Hidden Churn Many SaaS businesses lose 5%–9% of revenue to failed payments yet they classify it as product churn instead of a billing system prob...

#Effective #Strategies #to #Fight #Churn #dunning #management […]

[Original post on freemius.com]

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@vaalsalya.bsky.social

3 weeks ago

#MishaDaVinci
" #Attention is being #harvested.
#Intelligence is being #externalized.
#Identity is being #shaped by #algorithms.
#Agency is quietly #eroding.
Becoming #sovereign is your only #effective #response."
substack.com/@mishadavinc...

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Ned Peyroux

@o0ned.bsky.social

1 month ago

#Americans were stationing themselves to #invade #Korea & #Vietnam in 1940s #post-war #Japan.

What they accomplished was to #destroy #huge portions of #Asian #medicine.

#Countless #Chinese #admit they brought it from Korea & that #Korean #acupuncture is still the #most #effective.

#vss365 #orgone

3 1 0 0

1 month ago

Best Practices for Efficient Long-Distance Moves On moving day, tiny gaps suddenly matter, like a missing label or a late truck window. The move still happens, but the minutes add up fast. After a ...

#Latest #News #business #coaching #effective […]

[Original post on smallbusinesscoach.org]

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@manager-tools.bsky.social

1 month ago

Best Practices for Efficient Long-Distance Moves On moving day, tiny gaps suddenly matter, like a missing label or a late truck window. The move still happens, but the minutes add up fast. After a ...

#Latest #News #business #coaching #effective […]

[Original post on smallbusinesscoach.org]

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Manager Tools

1 month ago

Register Now: https://loom.ly/WXDrzr8

#ManagerTools #Effective

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OskiDarski

@oskidarski.bsky.social

1 month ago

I admire his ability to rebuff attack questions without seeming to be flustered in any way. #effortless #effective .

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Miss Kitty 🌈🌈🌈

@misskitty.art

1 month ago

Democratic Capitulation and Disruptor Rise Terminal Assessment: The Democratic Capitulation and the Rise of the Disruptor Coalition (January 31, 2026) As of 5:00 PM ET on Saturday, January 31, 2026, the United States federal government is in a...

Somebody at least wants my #analysis. I'm expecting that to show up at some point. I'll just see how it lands. I am absolutely #devoted to being #effective. My life has been spent behind making all the shit work, but my preference has always been to be in front. For certain, in a couple ways.

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Allison Moon 🌙 🍁

@shewandersferal.bsky.social

1 month ago

Black Americans Are Saving White Lives #duet #blackhistorymonth #blackpeople #protest #savinglives YouTube video by Hawk's Podcasts / mdg650hawk

👏 one
👏 more
👏 time

#the #US #antiICE #prorests have been #TooWhite for #effective #GOP #propaganda

This is #STRATEGIC
They are #triggering #racist #ttopes, moving to #pPhiladelphia (home of the #MOVE #PoliceIncident 💥 ) & encouraging #racist online content…

Fox needs more outraged #MelaninSkin

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Visualmodo

@visualmodo.bsky.social

1 month ago

The Back-End Secrets That Make High-Traffic Websites So Effective In this article, we'll explore the back-end secrets that make high-traffic websites so effective from server infrastructure to database

The Back-End Secrets That Make High-Traffic Websites So Effective visualmodo.com/the-back-end... 💡🚀🧑‍💻 #BackEnd #Secrets #Effective #Websites #HighTraffic

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Visualmodo

@visualmodo.bsky.social

1 month ago

The Back-End Secrets That Make High-Traffic Websites So Effective In this article, we'll explore the back-end secrets that make high-traffic websites so effective from server infrastructure to database

The Back-End Secrets That Make High-Traffic Websites So Effective visualmodo.com/the-back-end... 💡🚀🧑‍💻 #BackEnd #Secrets #Effective #Websites #HighTraffic

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202512251036.bsky.social

@202512251036.bsky.social

1 month ago

#photocollage #artwork #art #artists #weird #original #collage #photography #phonetography #mobilephotography #phonephotography
#effective #fences #books #bookcovers
effective fences

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P Tam

@tamckpatrick.bsky.social

1 month ago

Measles Is Causing Brain Swelling in Children in South Carolina In the ongoing measles outbreak in South Carolina that has infected more than 800 people, some children have developed a rare but serious complication called encephalitis.

www.wired.com/story/measle...

If only we had some therapy that could have prevented this. Oh wait, we do.. #vaccines #work #safe #effective

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