Assign a task
Assign work as easily as sending a Slack message.
Task management in Slack
Turn Slack messages into tasks
Slack is a powerful communication platform where teams discuss work. As conversations move on, it is easy to lose track of action items and forget about requests.
This task management guide shows how to create tasks inside your Slack conversations, set deadlines and maintain visibility into what needs to be done.
Manage tasks in your Slack conversations
Automatic follow-ups
Reminders are sent before and after the due date, so you don't have to send them yourself.
Review outstanding work
See open and overdue tasks across your Slack channels.
Create a task in Slack
The task features in this guide use Chaser, a Slack add-on you can try for free.
To create a task, type /chaser in any channel or thread, add the assignee and due date, then send it.
/chaser @Alex prepare the client review deck by Friday
To convert an existing message into a task, hover over the message and select Convert to Task.
Discussion, files and status updates stay in the task thread.
Acknowledge task
The assignee selects Acknowledge on the task message to confirm they have seen it.
Automated reminders are posted in the task thread until they acknowledge it. Questions and clarifications can stay in the same thread.
Automated reminders
Reminders are posted in the task thread before the due date, on the due date and if the task becomes overdue.
Each reminder stays with the task, alongside its discussion, files and completion updates.
View your task list in Slack
Click Chaser in the Slack sidebar to open the Tasks view. Find tasks assigned to you, tasks you created and tasks you follow.
Group and filter tasks by channel, assignee, tag or due date.
Create recurring tasks
For work that repeats on a schedule, create a recurring task the same way:
/chaser @Maya send the data export every Friday
Chaser’s AI detects how it should repeat, and you are asked to confirm it.
Each occurrence is posted as a new task message, with its own due date and reminders.
Create tasks in bulk
Use Chaser checklists to create several related tasks at once. Save a reusable template with task names, assignees and due dates, and add variables such as a client name or launch date.
For a checklist named client onboarding, type /chaser client onboarding. Each item becomes a separate task in the channel or thread you choose.
A checklist can also run on a schedule, such as every week.
Group related tasks with tags
Add +important, +billing or another tag when you create a task:
/chaser @Maya send the client invoice by Friday
+billingFilter by tag in the Chaser dashboard to see related tasks from different channels together.
Track time on a task
To track time spent on tasks, open the task menu on any task message and select Log Time. Enter the hours and minutes spent on the task.
Logged time is included in reports for billing and project review.
Automatic status reports
Schedule a status report in any channel. It includes overdue tasks, tasks awaiting acknowledgement and recent changes.
Everyone in the channel can see what needs attention and follow up on the relevant tasks.
Project management in Slack
You can use Slack for end-to-end project management. Use channels to organize the work and a canvas for the project brief.
Manage tasks on a Kanban board or calendar, and create advanced custom reports. See the complete guide for project management in Slack.
Task management in Slack FAQ
Do assignees need to install Chaser?
No. Once Chaser is added to your Slack workspace, it is available to everyone there.
Can I assign Slack tasks to clients or partners?
Yes. People in a Slack Connect channel can receive, acknowledge and complete tasks. They can see only tasks in channels they can access.
Can Slack be used for project management too?
Yes. Create a channel for the project, keep the brief in a canvas and manage the work in task threads.
How is Chaser different from Slack Lists?
Slack Lists supports task tracking in a separate list view, similar to third-party work management software. Chaser supports managing tasks directly in your messages and conversations.
