How to use the Kudos app for Slack

The Kudos app for Slack lets you send, receive and engage with recognition without leaving Slack. When Kudos is available in a channel, you can recognize a colleague using the /recognize command, add optional points, and celebrate other recognition messages with endorsements, comments, and reactions.

Recognition sent from Slack appears in both the Slack channel and the Kudos Home feed in real time. This makes it easy to show appreciation while you’re already collaborating with your team.

Sending recognition from Slack

You can send recognition from any Slack channel where the Kudos app has been added. You must be a Kudos member to successfully send recognition.

1. Open a Slack channel where Kudos has been added.
2. Enter /recognize followed by the @ mention of the person you want to recognize (optional). 
3. Select the Kudos /recognize command.
4. Complete the Send recognition window:
   • Confirm the recipient
   • Enter your recognition in Message
   • Select at least one quality
   • Select an available point amount if you want to include points
5. Select Send.

Your recognition will appear in the Slack channel and in the Kudos Home feed in real time.

Note: You can recognize a Kudos member even if they are not part of your Slack channel. They can view the recognition in Kudos through their Kudos notification, but they will not receive a Slack notification because they cannot access the Slack channel you sent the recognition from.

Adding points to recognition

Points are always optional. The point amounts available to you depend on your available balance and your organization’s configured point presets. If you do not have enough points for the smallest available point preset, you can still send recognition without points.

Engaging with recognition in Slack

Recognition shared in Slack includes Kudos actions that let you continue the celebration.

You can:

• Endorse recognition, with or without points
• Comment on recognition
• React to recognition
• Select View in Kudos to open the same recognition in the main Kudos platform

Use the Kudos actions provided with the recognition message when endorsing, commenting, or reacting. This ensures your activity is synced to the same recognition in the Kudos Home feed.

Note: Engagement initiated in Slack syncs to Kudos. Engagement initiated from the Kudos Home feed does not sync back to the original Slack message.

• Speak to your Slack workspace administrator if you'd like the Kudos app added to your channel. 
• Make sure the person you want to recognize is Kudos member.
• Use the Kudos Endorse, Comment, and reaction actions on the recognition message so they also appear on the Kudos wall feed.
• Remember that the Slack workflow focuses on recognition. Additional features like announcements and celebrations are only available in the main Kudos platform.

Q: How do I send recognition from Slack?
A: Open a channel where Kudos has been added and enter /recognize followed by the @ mention of the recipient. Complete the Send recognition form and select Send.

Q: Can anyone in the Slack channel use the Kudos app?
A: Anyone in a channel where the app has been added can access the Kudos recognition workflow, but only Kudos members can successfully send recognition. If a Slack user who is not a Kudos member tries to send recognition, an error appears when they select Send.

Q: Can I recognize someone who is not in my Slack channel?
A: Yes, as long as the recipient is a Kudos member. The recognition is posted in the Slack channel and Kudos, and although the recipient cannot access the Slack channel, they can still view the recognition through their Kudos notification instead.

Q: Can I recognize a Slack user who is not a Kudos member?
A: No. If you select a Slack user who does not have a Kudos record, an error appears when you select Send and the recognition is not sent.

Q: Can I add points from Slack?
A: Yes, when you have enough available points to use one of the available point presets. Points are always optional, so you can still send recognition without them.

Q: Can I comment on, react to, or endorse recognition from Slack?
A: Yes. Use the Kudos actions provided with the recognition message so your engagement can be synced to the Kudos Home feed.

Q: Will recognition I send in Kudos also appear in Slack?
A: No. Recognition sent from Slack appears in both Slack and the Kudos Home feed. Recognition sent from the Kudos Home feed does not appear in Slack.

Problem: The /recognize command is not available

• Make sure you are using a Slack channel where the Kudos app has been added.
• Try the command in another channel where you know Kudos is available.
• If Kudos is not available in the channel you want to use, contact your Slack workspace administrator.

Problem: I get an error when I select Send

• Make sure you are a Kudos member.
• Confirm that the person you selected is also a Kudos member.
• If the recipient exists in Slack but not in Kudos, select a recipient who has a corresponding Kudos record.
• Try sending the recognition again after confirming both you and the recipient are Kudos members.

Problem: The recipient did not receive a Slack notification

• Confirm that the recipient is a Kudos member.
• Check whether the recipient belongs to the Slack channel where you sent the recognition; if they cannot access the channel, they will not receive a Slack notification.
• The recipient can use their Kudos notification to view the recognition in the Kudos Home feed instead.

Problem: I can’t add points to my recognition

• Check your available points in the Send recognition window.
• You need enough points to use at least one of the available point presets; if your balance is lower than the smallest available preset, you cannot attach points.
• Send your recognition without points instead. Points are always optional.

Problem: My comment, reaction, or endorsement is not showing in Kudos

• Make sure you used the Kudos actions provided with the recognition message in Slack.
• Open the recognition in the Kudos Home feed and confirm you are viewing the same message.
• Remember that engagement from Slack syncs to Kudos, but engagement added in Kudos does not sync back to the original Slack message.