Team Workspace Chat App: Basics for Getting Started

Follow these steps in order to get comfortable with a team workspace chat app.

  1. Sign up and join (or create) a workspace

    Sign up with your work email through the app or website, then create a new workspace or join your company's existing one using an invite link from an admin. A workspace is a separate space tied to your organization, completely independent from any personal chat account you use with friends.

  2. Send messages in 1:1 or group chats

    Search for a coworker to open a direct message, or create a group chat to message multiple teammates at once, sharing files and emoji along the way. Since it's built for work, you can typically only find and message people listed in your organization's directory.

  3. Start an instant video meeting

    Tap the video call icon at the top of a chat to launch a meeting instantly, with no separate software to install. Share the meeting link and outside guests can usually join from a browser without needing an account.

  4. Create a poll to gather quick input

    Open the add-on menu in a chat, choose to create a poll, and add your options to quickly gather everyone's opinion. You can set a deadline, allow multiple selections, or make responses anonymous.

  5. Browse the company directory

    Use the directory in the side menu to see coworkers organized by department and title, and message them directly from there. Searching by name or department makes it fast to find the right person.

  6. Keep work chat separate from personal messaging

    A workspace account and its messages are entirely separate from any personal chat app you use β€” different login, different contact list, different history. That separation makes it much easier to switch off from work notifications once you're off the clock.

Why use a dedicated app instead of your personal messenger

Mixing personal chats with work messages makes it easy for something important to get buried β€” or for a work message to land at an inconvenient time. A dedicated workspace app keeps your account, contacts, and message history entirely separate from personal messaging, so collaboration stays organized around your organization's directory and notifications are much easier to manage outside of work hours.

Compare it with other team collaboration apps

If you're evaluating options, it's worth comparing a chat-first workspace app like this against ones built more around shared calendars and company-wide bulletin boards, since the right fit often depends on whether your team relies more on fast messaging or on scheduling and announcements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I find and message my personal contacts through my work account?

No β€” a workspace account can generally only search for and message people registered in your organization's directory, so it stays completely separate from any personal contact list.

Do outside guests need an account to join a video meeting?

Usually not β€” if the host shares a meeting link, outside participants can typically join directly from a web browser without creating an account.