Integrating Small Improvements with Slack allows your team to stay updated on key activities—like 1:1 meetings, feedback cycles, and praise—directly within their daily workflow. This article guides you through the setup process, explains how to manage notification settings, and walks you through how to use Slack with Small Improvements' features.
Setting up the integration
To enable the integration, you must have HR Admin or Tech Admin permissions in Small Improvements.
Navigate to the Administration tab and select Integrations.
Click the Slack tile.
Click the Add to Slack button.
You will be redirected to Slack’s authorization page. Select the correct workspace and click Allow.
Once approved, you’ll be returned to the Small Improvements setup screen with a confirmation that the connection is active.
Note: Direct (private) Slack notifications are automatically enabled for all users once the integration is set up. This includes reminders for upcoming reviews or 1:1s.
Managing notification settings as an admin
As an Admin, you can choose exactly which updates are sent to Slack. In the Integrations > Slack menu under Configuration, you can toggle the following notifications on or off:
Channel-wide notifications
Public Praise: Post all public praise to a specific Slack channel to boost visibility.
Public Objectives: Notify a chosen channel when new public objectives are created.
Individual (Private) notifications via Slack for other features
You can enable private Slack messages to inform staff about specific milestones:
360° Feedback: Notify staff when feedback is requested, when nudges are sent, or when feedback is released for themselves or their reports.
Praise: Alert staff when they receive new Praise.
Anytime Feedback: Notify staff when feedback is requested from or about them, or when feedback about them has been released.
Performance Reviews: Send nudges about reviews that need to be written or reviews that have been shared with the employee.
Objectives: Inform staff automatically when their own objectives are updated.
Note: Objective notifications are delayed by 5 minutes to prevent "spam" when you make multiple quick edits.
Using Small Improvements features within Slack
Once the integration is enabled, your team can celebrate success and more without leaving their workspace.
Praise: Recognizing coworkers
The integration adds a /praise command to your Slack workspace. This allows you to recognize teammates publicly and instantly from Slack.
Type
/praisein any Slack message bar and press Enter.A pop-up window will appear where you can finalize your message and select a Badge.
Click Submit.
Public Visibility: Praise sent from Slack is always public in Small Improvements. It appears on the recipient's profile and in the "Helpful Resources" sidebar during reviews.
Engagement: Team members can "Like" a Slack praise message, which syncs as a "Like" in Small Improvements.
Praise notifications: Once you have enabled the integration and selected a channel, your Slack users will see all new public Praises in that channel. They’ll also receive private notifications for any praises they were mentioned.
Pulse Surveys: Engaging your team
Pulse Surveys are a great way to gather quick feedback, and the Slack integration makes it even easier for your team to participate without interrupting their workflow.
Launch notifications: When creating a new Pulse Survey, you can choose to send out Slack notifications to all participants as soon as the survey begins.
Instant invitations: These notifications invite employees to share their perspectives immediately.
In-app responses: Your team can respond to Pulse Surveys directly within the Slack interface, removing the need to log into Small Improvements to complete them
Tip: Using Slack for Pulse Surveys typically increases participation rates because it meets employees where they already communicate
1:1 Meetings: Preparation and reminders
The Slack integration helps managers and reports stay prepared for their 1:1s by sending timely reminders and allowing for quick updates.
Meeting reminders
Standard timing: Employees receive an automated Slack message 36 hours before a scheduled 1:1 meeting.
Last-minute meetings: If a meeting is scheduled less than 36 hours in advance, participants will receive a notification within 15 minutes of the meeting's creation.
Past meetings: No Slack notifications are triggered for meetings created with a date in the past.
Adding content from Slack
Users can contribute to their 1:1 agenda without leaving their chat window:
Talking points: Click the button in the Slack notification to open a pop-up and add shared talking points.
Meeting notes: Once a meeting begins (or for meetings already in the past), an Add notes button becomes available in Slack. This button typically appears within 5 minutes of the meeting's start time.
Employee-level control
Individual employees can also control their own experience from their Settings panel in Small Improvements.
Click your Profile Picture and select Your Settings.
Under the Notifications section, users can toggle specific Slack reminders—such as 1:1 meeting nudges—on or off to suit their personal workflow.
Privacy and security
We take your data security seriously. The integration only accesses the information necessary to deliver notifications. For more details, please visit our Privacy Policy.
Next steps
Now that Slack is connected, you might want to:
Test the integration: Send a piece of "Public Praise" to see how it appears in your chosen channel.
Invite your team: Let your employees know they will start receiving helpful reminders via the Small Improvements Slack bot.