Start a thread: reducing chatter and distraction in Slack

Update: Slack pushed a big update to Threads! Many of the things originally discussed in this post were addressed, which is awesome! More on that below…

Slack outlined the problem and opportunity best in an introduction to threads blog post a little over a year ago:

“When you’re working with your team in Slack, discussions can move quickly and cover a lot of ground.”

My startup uses Slack pretty heavily. Even as a small team, there’s a lot of chatter. Being that we’re distributed, we need the real-time communication, but the interruptions that come with that can be a real pain. I’ve been thinking that maybe we’re not alone, and there might be a better way. Threading could be that better way, but only if we make it the default, not the exception.

Thinking about threads

Using threads-by-default might solve the distraction-filled Slack chatter. They help balance real-time and asynchronous communication through several benefits:

1. Thread replies don’t clutter the channel - Conversations stay organized and focused
2. Replies stay attached to original messages - Context is preserved, making it easier to follow discussions
3. Only participants or @mentioned individuals receive notifications - Reduces notification fatigue for the rest of the team
4. Participated threads file into “All Threads” - Easy tracking of conversations you’re involved in

A couple issues

When I originally wrote this, there were two main limitations:

1. No ability to move @mentions into pre-existing threads - If someone @mentioned you in the main channel, you couldn’t easily redirect the conversation into a relevant thread
2. Images couldn’t be posted to threads ✅ Update: now you can! Slack allows any file within threads

Some things to try…

If you want to experiment with thread-by-default communication, here are some suggestions:

• Communicate thread-by-default preferences with your team - Make sure everyone understands the approach and its benefits
• Star important conversations for reference - Use Slack’s starring feature to bookmark critical threads
• Follow messages without responding - You can stay informed without adding to the noise
• Move misplaced @mentions - Create threads and mention users there to redirect conversations appropriately
• Apply threads selectively - Casual channels like #watercooler don’t need this structure

How could threads get better?

Here are some improvements I’d love to see:

1. Consolidate communication features

Eliminate comments in favor of threads. ✅ Update: Slack did this! This was a huge win for simplifying the interface and reducing confusion about when to use which feature.

2. Convert threads to posts

Allow upgrading important conversations to a richer post format. This would be great for surfacing critical discussions or decisions that deserve more visibility and formatting options.

3. Organize threads better

Enable per-channel filtering for easier conversation management. As threads accumulate, better organization and filtering tools would make it easier to find and manage ongoing discussions.

Final thoughts

I’d love to hear if others have tried thread-based workflows or have found alternative approaches to reducing workplace chat disruption. The key is finding the right balance between real-time collaboration and focused, asynchronous work.

Have you experimented with threading in your team’s Slack? What worked, and what didn’t? I’m always interested in hearing about different communication strategies that help teams stay productive without getting overwhelmed.