Does the mention of Slack or other new software tools make you uncomfortable?
Maybe you’ve been out of the workplace for more than a year. Or you’ve been working with a blue-chip company (the kind that still uses Internet Explorer). And you’ve never used Slack.
Getting up-to-speed with some of today’s software tools (like Slack) can be intimidating. Many new platforms have launched in the last few years and been rapidly adopted by the startup community. You can acquire these skills in no time, though, either by experimenting yourself or taking a short online course.
Experiment with free versions
These software tools are simple to learn. They offer both free and premium accounts. So sign up for a free account and dive in!
Slack
What it’s for: Slack is a tool that lets teams take communication out of cumbersome email. It works very much like Twitter for private groups, with conversations organized by hashtags.
How to learn it: Set up an account by going to slack.com, then invite a friend who would be willing to “play” with you a bit in the private channel (i.e. team) you’ve set up. Experiment. Set up hashtags for topics. Send messages. Add emojis. Invite others and set up channels. You’ll have a private space to try it out without embarrassing yourself if you slip up. Even better: Next For Me (nextforme.com), which offers info and resources for the 55+ generation, has created a Slack community for just this purpose. Dive in there, worry-free, and meet some kindred spirits in the process.
Google Docs and Drive
What it’s for: Many startups use Google’s G-Suite. The enterprise version allows the company to use their own branded email, while having access to the suite of apps, plus some administrative tools. But the apps are available to anyone with a Gmail account and it’s a free alternative to Microsoft Outlook. All the files reside in the cloud, and they can be shared by sending a link.
How to learn it: If you don’t have a Gmail account, set one up. Then, at the top right of your email screen, you’ll see the Google Apps grid icon. Choose your weapon and get started. Invite someone to share a doc or sheet and experiment with comments. Everything’s super-intuitive.
Trello
What it’s for: Trello is basically a list tool, but it’s commonly used for organization and project management. The pleasant graphic interface and simple drag-and-drop approach make it easy to use.
How to learn it: Sign up and begin making boards. As an easy first exercise make a to-list and organize it in to do, in progress, and done columns. Then move the cards from one stage to another as you complete the tasks. There’s a nifty tutorial here that’s actually set up on a Trello board. Or, if you prefer video, that’s here.
Evernote
What it’s for: Evernote is for notes. It’s as simple as that. Use it for everything from meeting notes to reminders. You can install a super-helpful clipper extension for Chrome. Then, any time you see something on the web you want to save, click and it pops into Evernote.
How to learn it: Create an account here. Then start clipping, making notes and organizing your life in notebooks. The platform is so versatile that there are lots of third-party tutorials and posts on the web about how to best use Evernote.
Take a course
Many other tools are only available with a SaaS subscription, so you won’t be dabbling in those until your job requires you to (and pays for you as a user). Or, they may be role-specific, such as InVision (design prototypes), Mailchimp (marketing), Buffer (social media), Lever (recruiting), and Airtable (relational databases).
For those that are essential to your role (such as Salesforce, if you’re in sales), you’ll want to dig deep with training. Other times, you’ll only be using the platform to see the work of others or for light use. In that case, why not take a beginner-level course? Check out SlideShare and Lynda (both now owned by LinkedIn Learning), Udemy, Coursera or any place experts share their knowledge. You can also just spend some serious time in the platform tutorial and support material. For example, Asana has extensive video courses to help you master the project management platform.
Don’t be shy: Everyone in the company will be learning new tools throughout the year. It’s just business-as-usual now!