How to Set Up Coffee Chats in Slack

To run coffee chats in Slack, choose who takes part, how often they meet, and what each introduction should say. Doozy sends the matches in Slack and helps participants schedule a time.

Start with an opt-in group. For a first program, try pairs, a 15-minute meeting, and a match every two weeks. Use meeting activity and participant feedback to adjust the program after a few rounds.

A starter coffee-chat program

• Participants: People who join a dedicated channel such as #coffee-chats.
• Group size: Two people per match.
• Schedule: Every two weeks.
• Meeting length: 15 minutes.
• Intro message: “Share one thing your team is working on and one question you would like another perspective on.”

These are suggested settings you can configure in Doozy. Connect your HR system if you want matching preferences based on employee details, and check that the relevant information is available.

How to set up coffee chats in Slack

1. Create a recurring introduction

Open Introductions in the Doozy dashboard and create a Doozy Roulette. Give the program a name people will recognize, such as “Cross-team coffee chats.”

Doozy Roulette is a recurring matching program. You choose the participant pool and settings; Doozy sends the introductions on schedule.

2. Choose participants

Select people from a Slack channel, employee groups, or specific individuals. For an opt-in program, explain the purpose and ask interested colleagues to join the chosen channel.

You can also match two populations, such as new hires and longer-serving employees. Check that each pool has enough participants for useful matches. Employee-group options depend on the information available in Doozy.

3. Set matching preferences

Use preferences that support the program's purpose:

Team, location, tenure, and seniority preferences depend on relevant employee information. A connected HR system can supply that data. Matches also depend on the available participant pool; preferences cannot create a suitable match if no one fits.

4. Choose a schedule and introduction message

Set the start date and recurrence. Every two weeks is a reasonable starting point to try; reduce or increase the frequency based on availability and feedback.

Write a short introduction that says why people have been matched and what they can discuss. For example:

You are matched for this round of cross-team coffee chats. Set aside 15 minutes to share what your team is working on and ask a question about your colleague's work.

A suggested topic gives people a starting point without requiring a formal agenda.

5. Configure meeting options

Choose the meeting length, location, reminders, and any feedback request. Doozy can help participants choose a time, or you can configure automatic booking using a fixed time or availability.

Slack introductions do not require connected calendars. Automatic meeting booking requires a connected participant calendar or a company calendar. Available meeting options include Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and in-person meetings; Zoom requires a connected account.

6. Review participation controls and launch

Decide whether to send an upcoming-match notification so people can skip a busy round. Review opt-out and exclusion settings before launch, and tell participants how to use them.

Run a small first round to check the message, matching, and scheduling experience. The Doozy Roulette help guide includes the detailed setup walkthrough.

Give the program a clear purpose

A useful purpose explains who should join and what they might get from the conversation:

• New hires: Meet colleagues outside the immediate team.
• Cross-team work: Learn how another department handles a shared process.
• Peer support: Discuss a practical challenge with someone in a similar role.
• Knowledge sharing: Exchange a useful tool, workflow, or lesson from a recent project.

Keep the invitation specific and participation voluntary. A coffee chat introduces people; it does not by itself establish mentoring, collaboration, or retention outcomes.

For a named onboarding buddy or mentor, use mentor assignment within a Track. Recurring coffee-chat matching serves a different purpose.

Review whether people are meeting

Doozy's introduction reports show matches, scheduled meetings, participant confirmations that they met, and feedback when requested.

A calendar booking records a scheduled event. A participant's “Said Met” response records their confirmation. Use both when reviewing participation rather than treating every booking as attendance.

After a few rounds, ask:

• Are people scheduling time with their matches?
• Is the cadence manageable?
• Are the matching preferences producing useful introductions?
• Do participants want different prompts or meeting lengths?

Adjust the program based on that feedback. Meeting counts alone do not explain the quality of the conversations.

Frequently asked questions

Can people skip a round?

Configure upcoming notifications and participation options so employees can skip busy periods or opt out. Explain the process in the program invitation.

Can we run several programs?

Yes. You can configure separate recurring introductions for different groups and purposes. Give each program a clear owner and schedule.

Do we need an HR integration?

You can run introductions without one. Matching based on employee attributes requires that information to be available; an HR connection can keep it up to date.

How do coffee chats fit into onboarding?

Use an onboarding track for a new hire's scheduled activities and introductions. A recurring coffee-chat program can provide additional opportunities to meet colleagues after the initial onboarding period.