Due to the pandemic and consequent growth of remote work, there is a widespread use of communication apps. Slack and Microsoft Teams dominate this category. These apps include features to chat, video conference and share files with other team members, no matter where they are located.
There are a few things that make Slack and Microsoft Teams chat channels more annoying than they need to be. First, there is the constant stream of notifications. Whether it’s a new message, someone @mentioning you, or a new channel being created, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of notifications.
Second, there is the lack of control over who can join a channel. This can often lead to uninvited guests joining a conversation and disrupt the flow of discussion. Finally, there is the difficulty in searching for specific messages or threads. With so many different conversations going on at once, it can be hard to find the needle in the haystack. Ultimately, these are all factors that can make Slack and Microsoft Teams chat channels more annoying than they need to be.
What started out as a convenience, however, now has become an irritant. These apps constantly force you to pay attention to the chatter going on in their channels, even though many of the communications are of little importance to you. Getting constantly distracted reduces productivity as you don’t get any space to do deep thinking and concentrate on the tasks at hand.
Here are some tips to make your communication apps less annoying:
1. Be clear about the goals
Avoid the temptation to start conversations on chat channels unless you are clear of what you want to achieve. Poorly thought-out chats lead to unnecessary back and forth conversations trying to sort issues that could have been avoided in the first place through a properly worded message.
2. Fix up timings for interaction
Develop informal best practices with your team members on work-life boundaries. Be clear of when you will be available to discuss work. Just because your colleague’s time zone is different than yours, doesn’t mean you should sacrifice your personal time for work.
3. Prepare meeting agenda
Instead of free-wheeling chats, you may get more done if you put your thoughts down on paper, share it with your team, and then followed up with a phone call. This will give your team time to digest the information and provide thoughtful input. Set up scheduled video conferences with a written agenda to go over routine items. For example, it may be easier for the marketing manager to go over the weekly web site visitor information in a video conference with screen sharing instead of chatting on a chat channel.
4. Choose the right communication channel
Ask your teammates not to put you in chat channels where your involvement is peripheral. There is no reason for you to be in the technical support channel when you are the finance guy. In such instances it may be more effective for the technical support person to contact you through a direct chat, that is to the point. Don’t start a new channel unless you are sure the information you will be discussing is not already covered on another channel. Having too many channels is counterproductive to the idea of keeping your work organized to reduce stress, and increase productivity.
5. Use email when necessary
Yes, you got that right, sometimes email is more effective than chat, even with your own team members. Chat forces the recipient to respond immediately and can be stressful. Email gives you space to think before responding.
6. Choose to integrate wisely
Be thoughtful about the apps you integrate in a chat channel. Just because you can integrate somebody’s tweets that you find informative, doesn’t mean your whole team needs to be bothered with this information.
7. Encourage informal communication
Schedule time for banter. While in the office a lot of socializing happens at the water cooler. These informal conversations help build relationships and allow people to know each other outside of their work roles. Such conversations now need to happen using online media. It is a paradox that an informal event needs to be scheduled! But if you don’t schedule it, it won’t happen.
8. Set up a dedicated workspace
One of the best things you can do to minimize distractions and maximize productivity is to set up a dedicated workspace. If possible, find a quiet room where you can close the door and tune out the rest of the world. If you can’t have a dedicated workspace, try to find a quiet corner where you can set up your laptop and focus on your work.
9. Learn to deal with distractions
Though communication apps are an essential part of our lives, helping us to stay connected with family, friends, and coworkers; they can also be a source of frustration, constantly pinging and buzzing with notifications. Explore the app settings to see how you can minimize these distractions.
10. Turn off notifications for unimportant channels or conversations
Many communication apps allow you to customize your notification settings so that you only receive the alerts that are most important to you. For example, you might want to turn off notifications for non-urgent emails or messages that can wait until later. This way, you’ll only be alerted when there’s something that requires your immediate attention. Customizing your notification settings can help you avoid irrelevant distractions and focus on what’s most important.
11. Turn off notifications outside of work hours
If you find yourself constantly checking your communication apps outside of work hours, it’s time to turn off those notifications! You don’t need to be available 24/7—in fact, it’s important to take some time each day to disconnect from work so you can recharge your batteries. By turning off notifications outside of work hours, you’ll be less tempted to reply to messages right away and can instead focus on enjoying your personal time.
12. Set specific timings for interactions
The first step is to schedule specific times for checking email and messaging apps. Whether it’s first thing in the morning, midday, or right before you leave for the day, decide on a set time or two when you will allow yourself to check and respond to messages. This will help you avoid getting sucked into a never-ending cycle of checking your inboxes every five minutes.
13. Set up filters and auto-responders
Another way to manage communication app notifications is by setting up filters and auto-responders. This way, you can prioritize which messages need your immediate attention and which ones can wait until later. For example, you might want to set up a filter for emails from your boss so that those always go to the top of your inbox. Or, you might want to set up an autoresponder for less urgent messages letting people know when you’ll be available to respond.
14. Set up a do not disturb period
Setting up a do not disturb period on your communication app can help to make it less annoying. During this time, you will not receive any notifications from the app and will not be able to access it. This can help you to focus on other tasks and avoid being distracted by the app. In addition, it can help to reduce the number of unread messages and notifications that you must deal with when you do return to the app. If you find that you are constantly being interrupted by your communication app, then setting up a do not disturb period may be the best solution.
15. Only allow direct messages from people you know and trust
One way to combat this problem is to allow direct messages only from people who you know and trust. This way, you can be sure that the messages you are receiving are relevant and important, and you won’t have to wade through a bunch of useless junk. Additionally, this policy will help to build trust and rapport between users, as people will only be able to message each other if they have been mutually approved. In the end, allowing direct messages only from known and trusted contacts may make your communication app less annoying and more user-friendly.
16. Give yourself some time away from the app each day
Another great way to make the app less annoying is to take some time away from your communication app. This doesn’t mean you have to delete it completely, but you can temporarily disable notifications or limit yourself to checking it a few times per day. This can help reduce the constant barrage of notifications and give you a chance to focus on other things. Another option is to customize your notifications so that you only receive alerts for the most important messages. This way, you can still stay connected without being bombarded with every single message.
17. Disable notifications for certain types of messages and allow messages from only certain contacts
One way to make your communication app less annoying is to disable notifications for certain types of messages. For example, you might want to disable notifications for group chats, or for messages that contain attachments. This way, you’ll only be alerted when there’s something truly important that needs your attention. As a result, you’ll be able to stay connected without having to constantly worry about being interrupted.
By only allowing messages from certain contacts, you can help to make your app less overwhelming and more manageable. This can be a great way to reduce the amount of information overload that you’re experiencing on a daily basis.
18. Keep your phone silent or vibrate.
Another way to avoid getting distracted by notifications is to keep your phone on silent or vibrate mode when you’re trying to focus on work. This way, you won’t be interrupted by every new email or text message that comes in. You can still check your messages at your designated break times, but this will help you stay focused in the meantime.
19. Use headphones
If you need to stay focused but can’t find a quiet place to work, another great solution is to use headphones. Listening to music or white noise can help Tune out distractions and help you focus on your work. Plus, if you wear headphones, people will be less likely to interrupt you since they’ll think you’re busy listening to something important.
20. Choose content-rich subject chat
Be open to the idea of looking at new ideas in work communication. Take for instance a new app called Clariti. This app takes a completely different approach to team collaboration as compared to Slack and Teams. When it comes to team collaboration, context is everything. That’s why Clariti’s content-rich subject chats are better than Slack and Microsoft Teams for messaging and productivity. With Clariti, you can easily see all the relevant context for a specific chat topic, including past messages, files, and links. This makes it easy to catch up on a discussion or quickly find the information you need. In addition, Clariti’s subject chats are organized by topic, so you can easily find the right chat for each project or task. This helps to keep conversations focused and eliminates the need to search through hundreds of messages to find the right information. As a result, Clariti’s content-rich subject chats are the perfect solution for team collaboration.
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Conclusion
Communication apps can be a great asset for staying connected and managing your time effectively. In today’s constantly connected world, it’s more important than ever to be able to focus and get work done without distractions. With so many communication apps vying for our attention, it can be hard to stay productive at work.
By following the tips above—scheduling specific times for checking messages, setting up filters and auto-responders, and turning off notifications outside of work hours—you can avoid letting distractions from communication apps take over your life.
Frequently Asked Questions
What app can we use to communicate with each other?
If you’re looking for a app that can communicate with each other, you have a few different options. One popular option is Clariti, which offers end-to-end encryption for all its communication. This means that your messages are secure and can only be read by the person you’re communicating with. Another option is Facebook Messenger, which also offers end-to-end encryption. However, it also has the option to turn off this encryption, so be sure to check the settings before you start using it. Finally, there’s Signal, which is an open-source app that is known for its focus on security and privacy. Whichever app you choose, be sure to read up on it and make sure it’s the right fit for you.
What are the best tips to make your communication app less annoying?
Every day, people around the world rely on communication apps to stay in touch with loved ones, conduct business, and stay up to date on the latest news. However, these apps can also be a source of frustration, with constant notifications, relentless ads, and unending scrolls of content. If you’re looking for ways to make your communication app less annoying, here are a few tips:
First, take a close look at your notification settings and adjust them so that you only receive alerts for the most important messages. Secondly, consider using an ad blocker to cut down on the number of advertisements you see. Finally, take some time to curate your feeds so that you’re only seeing content that is truly relevant and interesting to you. By following these tips, you can help reduce the amount of annoyance caused by communication apps.
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