Engaging your team is critical for boosting productivity, collaboration, and overall job satisfaction. One great way to increase engagement in Slack is by making polls. Polls allow you to quickly gather feedback, facilitate discussions, and make decisions.
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Why You Should Use Polls in Slack
Here are some of the key benefits of using polls in Slack:
- Get feedback fast: You can create a poll in seconds and have results instantly. This allows you to make quick decisions based on team input.
- Increase participation: Polls encourage more people to share their perspective compared to just asking a question in a channel.
- Spark conversations: Polls get people talking! The discussion generated from a poll often leads to deeper conversations.
- Improve meetings: Kick off a meeting by gathering input on the top agenda items. Polls help meetings stay focused on what matters most.
- Boost morale: Employees feel valued when their feedback is actively sought out and they can see poll results.
How to Make a Basic Poll in Slack
While Slack doesn’t have a built-in polling feature, you can easily create a simple poll using emoji reactions.
Step 1: Ask a Question
Compose a message in a channel and ask a question, like “Where should we go for the offsite meeting?”
Step 2: Add Emoji Reactions
Add a different emoji for each polling option, such as:
:palm_tree: Miami
:statue_of_liberty: New York City
:GoldenGateBridge: San Francisco
Step 3: Have Teammates Vote
Instruct your teammates to add the corresponding emoji reaction to cast their vote!
Using a Polling App
For more advanced polls, a dedicated Slack polling app like Polly or Simple Poll is better suited. These tools allow you to:
- Create multi-question polls
- Customize poll settings
- View detailed analytics on poll results
- Schedule recurring polls
- Export poll data
Here’s how to create a poll using Polly:
Step 1: Install the Polly App
Search for Polly in the Slack App Directory and add it to your workspace.
Step 2: Compose a Poll
Type /polly and hit enter to launch the poll composer.
Step 3: Customize Your Poll
Select poll settings like:
- Anonymous or public responses
- Single or multi-vote
- Allow others to add options
Post your poll in a channel or DM it to specific teammates!
Best Practices for Poll Engagement
Follow these best practices when creating and sharing polls to maximize participation:
Keep it Short and Simple
- Ask one question at a time
- Use concise answer options
- Avoid complicated instructions
Use Visuals
- Add an image to introduce your poll or next to each answer option
- Use emoji reactions for basic polls
Target Your Audience
- Poll in smaller channels focused on specific teams or projects
- Show real-time results to encourage participation
- Summarize key takeaways after the poll closes
Allow Open Responses
- Let teammates explain their choice or provide other feedback
Sample Poll Ideas
Here are some sample poll topic ideas you can create in Slack:
- Meeting feedback: What day and time works best for our team standup?
- Event interest: Would you attend the company holiday party on Friday or Saturday night?
- Brainstorming: What three features should we prioritize adding to our product roadmap in Q2?
- Culture check-in: How happy are you with the company culture on a scale of 1-10?
- Process improvement: What takes up too much of your time each week that we could improve or automate?
The polling options in Slack make gathering team feedback and improving employee engagement easier than ever. So what are you waiting for? Launch your first poll today!
