Alephic is built on clear communication. These principles ensure Slack serves as a powerful tool for collective intelligence rather than a source of noise.
Foundational Requirements
Full Name > Nickname
Your full name creates clarity and accountability. Enable quick identification and build trust through consistent identity.
Real Photo > Avatar
Professional photos speed up visual recognition and strengthen remote relationships. Use a clear, recent headshot.
Operating Principles
Public > Private
Public channels create institutional memory and enable collective intelligence. Default to public communication, even when sitting next to colleagues. Reserve DMs for sensitive or wildly off-topic discussions.
Async > Sync
Slack excels at both immediate and delayed communication. Design messages for future discovery. Assume colleagues will read your message hours or days later.
Specific > General
Focused channels increase signal and reduce noise. Start broad, then split channels when topics develop their own gravity. Clear boundaries encourage participation.
Archive > Keep
Dead channels create cognitive overhead. Archive aggressively - channels can always be revived. Use Dash for temporary project channels.
Calls > Chat
When complexity exceeds what messages can carry, escalate to calls. Make them public when possible - visibility compounds knowledge.
Order > Chaos
Channel prefixes establish clear boundaries:
- bot- > System automations and integrations
- client- > Client-specific discussions and updates
- proj- > Project-specific discussions
- ext- > External-facing channels
All other channels follow standard naming conventions: lowercase, hyphenated, descriptive (e.g., product-roadmap, team-updates).
Ask > Greet
Start with your question or purpose. Slack is asynchronous by design—opening with a simple “Hello” delays responses and creates unnecessary wait times. Instead:
❌ “Hi there, you around?”
✅ “Hi there! When is the project meeting?”
This approach respects everyone's time and enables efficient collaboration. It also ensures the recipient has all the information they need to respond, even if they're delayed. Pleasantries are welcome but pair them with purpose.