How to Use Slack to Establish a Transparent Workplace Culture

Companies around the globe are now focusing on a transparent work culture as a significant driver of talent acquisition and retention. Doing away with email (or minimizing its use in your organization) can help in realizing this idea. We spoke to Angela Kuo, VP of People at DevaCurl, a leading brand for hair products, and found out:

• Why DevaCurl has almost replaced internal email with Slack
• Three reasons why Slack is the company’s preferred choice
• Why transparency is integral to your organization’s growth path
   

The modern workplace is defined by a company’s ability to offer an open, fair, and hospitable work culture. Beyond compensation and benefits, employees today expect (and demand) a positive environment, focused on maximizing individual potential, and one that lets its people grow as the organization prospers.

So, transparent work culture is just as crucial as your rewards and recognitionOpens a new window program or feedback/survey sessions. Communication is a two-way process, and employees prefer to speak their mind just as much as they want to know everything about organizational goals. 

Of course, technology has a significant role to play in this. Today, there is a range of digital tools, platforms, social media, and other channels at your disposal to democratize work culture and create a transparent operating environment.

And, to support this argument, here’s a number that tells a tale – research by HarvardOpens a new window suggests that 67% of workers surveyed believe that the absence of communication is the most harmful roadblock to collaboration and productivity.

Can modern workplace collaboration tools like Slack be game-changers in this space? 

To answer this question, we spoke to Angela Kuo, VP of People at DevaCurlOpens a new window . At DevaCurl, Slack has almost replaced the traditional email as its premier form of communication and collaboration forum.

Learn More: 10 Culture Building Blocks for High-Performing OrganizationsOpens a new window

Why the “Cold-Set Print” of Email Doesn’t Work Anymore

The biggest problem with emailOpens a new window is its rather impersonal nature in the workplace. Messages written in official spiel tend to create a sense of stress, pressure, and urgency, making discussion or positive brainstorming rather challenging.

There’s also the possibility of conversations happening in silos – without genuinely addressing any real issues. And, of course, endless email trails sometimes begin to miss the point after a while!

Kuo said that her company did away with internal emails in 2019, and today, any internal communication at DevaCurlOpens a new window happens on Slack.

“Slack makes most information public, so everyone is privy and getting the same message. It’s transparent. Employees want to know where this company is going, and [they] should have insights into topics that are outside their focus. If we invite everyone into the conversation, things will move forward more quickly. It’s collaboration and teamwork happening in real-time. People chime in and help resolve issues on their own versus siloed conversations,” she commented.

Let’s now delve a little deeper and look at three reasons why Slack could make a difference in fostering a transparent work culture.

Learn More: Rewire your Culture, Technology Success will FollowOpens a new window

Making Sense of Slack: 3 Standout Benefits

If transparency in the workplace is among your key target areas for this year, Slack could be the solution you’re looking for. This is why:

1. It helps in creating a sense of ownership and empowerment

Slack and similar collaboration platforms connect various stakeholders of any project in a single space without having people “pass the buck,” as it were. The very informal nature of chatrooms is what renders conversation comfortable. It also helps get quicker responses without the fluff of pleasantries and signoffs.  

“Email is like a game of tennis, where you check off your action (read: overhead slam) and lob it over to someone else. With Slack, it becomes conversational, and that’s such a powerful thing. It empowers other people to solve problems and cut out steps,” explained Kuo.

2. It’s human, it’s emotive, and it adds that essential dash of “fun” in the workplace

Slack offers hundreds of plugins and interactive elements that nurture a sense of teamwork, shared responsibility, and a light touch – all of which are important during those long hours and critical assignments.

For example, if you’re reviewing code, you can do it in the app itself without having to switch between windows and platforms continually. (Here’s a full list of Social and Fun appsOpens a new window you can access on Slack, which includes popular favorites like Spotify, CatFacts, and Beer Time!)

Kuo shared her thoughts on this: “We are a big proponent of bringing emojis and Giphys into the workplace. Emojis make the conversation more emotional and more like the way we really communicate day to day. Why do we get so stiff in the workplace? Work can actually (and should) be fun.”

3. It allows you to separate official conversation from necessary daily banter

Contrary to what you might think, Slack isn’t an email slayer! When used intelligently with an official email handle, it perfectly separates everyday discussions from formal announcements, notifications, and updates.

Kuo discussed how, after a point of time, DevaCurl had to pivot in a different direction. “The content needs to be professional, but in order to achieve fluent, open communication, the old school way of emailing isn’t cutting it.

“I’ve used Slack in the past but never as the only/primary way to communicate,” she added. “I now prefer Slack and use it to the extent that my actual emails are neglected! We still use email for more formal communications (e.g., policy updates) but we use it in addition to Slack.”

These are among the most essential reasons why Slack is a great support when you’re eager to improve employee collaboration and engagement. Even more importantly, it – both directly and indirectly – promotes a transparent work culture.

And today, in the modern organization, you simply can’t afford not to stay transparent, open-minded, and communication-friendly.

Learn More: 5 Exciting CultureTech Platforms to Help You Establish Company CultureOpens a new window

Transparent Is Perfect: Why Transparency Belongs at the Center of Your Work Culture

There’s no denying the necessity for transparency in companies today. Armed with the right information and the chance to be a part of the decision-making process, employees can put their best foot forward.

It’s also a magnet for attracting the best talent out there: the Slack 2018 Future of Work surveyOpens a new window revealed that 87% of candidates hoped that their next job would be more transparent).

In closing, Kuo said, “Anecdotally, the transition to Slack has gone over extremely well and most employees, including our salon teams, are on Slack. It’s definitely encouraged more broad, organic communication. It feels far less hierarchical since the communication is so direct.”

The verdict is in. As organizations strive to make transparency part of their work culture, solutions like Slack could help you take a step further in enabling it.

As HR, always keep an eye out on the newest tech tools, which you can then use these tools to offer employees a more vibrant and dynamic workplace.

What are you doing to enable a transparent work culture in your organization? Talk to us on FacebookOpens a new window , LinkedInOpens a new window , or TwitterOpens a new window . We’d love to hear from you!