How To Use Slack Shortcuts

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Slack has evolved into a crucial instrument for collaboration and communication across numerous work environments. As a person who depends a lot on Slack for my daily tasks, I can assert with confidence that mastering the use of shortcuts has significantly boosted my efficiency and productivity. In this piece, I aim to walk you through the steps of employing Slack shortcuts and will offer some of my own advice and strategies throughout.

What are Slack shortcuts?

Slack shortcuts are keyboard commands or combinations that allow you to quickly perform actions within the Slack application. These shortcuts can save you a significant amount of time by eliminating the need to navigate through multiple menus or click on various buttons.

Getting started with Slack shortcuts

To access the list of Slack shortcuts, simply press Ctrl + / on Windows or Command + / on Mac. This will bring up the Slack shortcuts panel, which displays a comprehensive list of all available shortcuts. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the shortcuts listed, and you’ll be amazed at how much time you can save!

My favorite Slack shortcuts

While all Slack shortcuts are incredibly useful, there are a few that have become my personal favorites and have greatly improved my workflow:

  1. Ctrl + K or Command + K: This shortcut allows you to quickly switch between channels or direct messages. It brings up a search bar where you can type the name of the desired channel or person. This shortcut is a real time-saver, especially if you are a member of multiple channels.
  2. Ctrl + / or Command + /: This shortcut is an alternative way to bring up the Slack shortcuts panel, even when you’re not in an input field. It is handy when you want to quickly access a shortcut without leaving your current view.
  3. Ctrl + Shift + ? or Command + Shift + ?: This shortcut allows you to move a message or selection of messages up in a channel or conversation. It’s perfect for reorganizing discussions or making important messages more visible.

Creating custom shortcuts

Did you know that you can also create your own custom shortcuts in Slack? This feature is incredibly handy if you frequently perform specific actions or use certain commands. To create a custom shortcut, follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Slack app’s preferences by clicking on your workspace name in the top left corner and selecting “Preferences” from the dropdown menu.
  2. In the preferences panel, click on “Shortcuts” in the left sidebar.
  3. Scroll down to the “Custom Shortcuts” section and click on the “Create New Shortcut” button.
  4. Enter the command or action you want to assign a shortcut to, and then choose the shortcut combination you want to use.
  5. Click on the “Save” button to save your custom shortcut.

By creating custom shortcuts for the actions you perform most frequently, you can further streamline your workflow and save even more time.

Conclusion

Using Slack shortcuts has been a game-changer for me. The ability to quickly navigate channels, access important commands, and create custom shortcuts has significantly improved my productivity. I encourage you to explore the various shortcuts available in Slack and experiment with creating your own custom shortcuts. With a little practice, you’ll become a Slack shortcut pro in no time!