Free workplace tool
Channel chooser
Use audience, urgency, sensitivity, and discussion needs to choose a communication route.
Decision helper
Choose the communication route
Complete the four questions.
This helper supports a decision; follow your workplace incident and privacy rules.
How the recommendation is calculated
The tool compares four questions: who needs the information, how quickly a response is required, whether the content is sensitive, and how much discussion is likely. Change one answer at a time to see why the recommended route changes.
A recommendation is not permission to share information. Check your employer’s approved platforms, access controls, retention rules, and escalation procedures before sending a real workplace message.
Typical communication routes
- Team channel: useful for visible updates, shared questions, and information that may help several colleagues.
- Direct message: appropriate for a short conversation with a limited audience when the content is allowed on chat.
- Email: useful when recipients need a durable record, a formal request, or time to respond asynchronously.
- Meeting: valuable when several people must make a decision, resolve ambiguity, or discuss competing options.
- Incident or urgent route: required when safety, security, service availability, or another documented escalation threshold is involved.
Before you send
- Write the outcome or action you need in the first sentence.
- Include only the context the audience requires.
- Choose a clear owner and deadline when action is expected.
- Move the conversation if the original channel becomes too sensitive or complex.
Practice the complete method in the Slack and Teams etiquette guide.
Use judgment
This helper cannot know your employer’s security, privacy, legal, or incident rules. Follow documented workplace procedures whenever they conflict with a general suggestion.