If you work at a 10,000-person company, and you're using e-mail as the primary means of communication, then you probably have access to a couple hundredths of 1 percent of all the communications happening across the company. But if you use Slack, you might have access to 10 or 20 percent.

The quote "If you work at a 10,000-person company, and you're using e-mail as the primary means of communication, then you probably have access to a couple hundredths of 1 percent of all the communications happening across the company. But if you use Slack, you might have access to 10 or 20 percent" by Stewart Butterfield highlights the difference in communication efficiency and transparency between traditional tools like email and newer collaboration platforms like Slack. Butterfield points out that email is a relatively narrow form of communication, often siloed and limited to individual conversations, which prevents users from accessing the broader picture of what’s happening across an entire organization.

In contrast, platforms like Slack are designed to facilitate more open and transparent communication across teams, departments, and the entire organization. With Slack, employees can participate in channels or conversations that span various topics and teams, providing them with access to a much larger portion of the company’s communication. This creates a more collaborative environment where employees are more likely to stay informed about the company’s broader goals and ongoing initiatives, improving overall teamwork and alignment.

Butterfield’s point is that communication tools directly influence the level of engagement and access employees have within an organization. Traditional tools like email can create communication bottlenecks or exclude individuals from important conversations, while modern collaboration platforms break down these barriers. By using platforms like Slack, employees have the opportunity to participate more fully in the organizational conversation, gaining access to critical information that might otherwise be siloed.

As the CEO and co-founder of Slack Technologies, Butterfield's quote draws on his extensive experience with the platform and its impact on workplace communication. His statement highlights the importance of technology in shaping how information flows within companies and the potential for better communication practices in today’s digital workplace. Butterfield advocates for tools that promote a more inclusive, open, and efficient flow of information.