How to Approve and Decline Requests in Slack
How to Approve and Decline Requests in Slack
In this article:
- Overview
- What you can approve from Slack
- How to approve a request
- How to decline a request
- How to reject a self registration
- What happens after you act
- Things to keep in mind
- FAQs
- Who can do this
Overview
Approvals no longer have to wait until you are back in SuperPath. When something needs your sign off, SuperPath sends it to you in Slack with Approve and Decline buttons right on the message. One click and it is done. The person is notified straight away, the message updates to show what you decided, and everything is recorded in SuperPath under your name, exactly as if you had done it there.
What you can approve from Slack
Request | Buttons in Slack |
|---|---|
A Pathway step waiting for your approval | Approve, Decline, Review in SuperPath |
An assignment submitted for your approval | Approve, Decline, Review in SuperPath |
A learning request from someone in your organisation | Approve, Decline, Review in SuperPath |
A self registration waiting for review | Approve, Reject, Review in SuperPath |
A Pathway waiting for approval | Review in SuperPath |
Use Review in SuperPath any time you want to see the full submission before you decide.
How to approve a request
- In the Slack message, click Approve.
- If this is the first time you have used a SuperPath button, click Connect account and confirm in your browser. You only do this once. Then click Approve again.
- For a learning request, an Approve request window opens. Optionally set a Due date for the learning, then click Approve.
That is it. For a step, an assignment or a self registration, a single click approves it with no extra window.
How to decline a request
- In the Slack message, click Decline.
- In the Decline window, type a Reason. The reason is shared with the person who submitted the request, so they know what to do next.
- Click Decline.
A reason is required, just as it is in SuperPath. If you leave it empty, nothing is changed and you are asked for one.
How to reject a self registration
- In the self registration message, click Reject.
Self registrations are rejected with one click and no reason, the same as in SuperPath.
What happens after you act
- The Slack message updates to show the outcome, for example approved by you, just now, and names who has been notified.
- When you decline, the message also shows the reason you gave.
- The person who made the request is notified in the usual way, by email, in SuperPath and in Slack.
- The change is made in SuperPath under your name, so reports, history and the approvals list all show it.
Things to keep in mind
- The buttons act as you. You can only approve or decline what you are allowed to in SuperPath, and you see You do not have permission to do that. if a request is not yours to action.
- If someone else has already dealt with a request, or you already actioned it in SuperPath, you see That has already been actioned. and nothing changes twice.
- Your Owner or Admin chooses which notifications go to Slack. If approval notifications are switched off for Slack, you receive them by email and in SuperPath only.
- Marking learning complete is not something you can do from Slack. Learning is always completed in SuperPath.
FAQs
Why does Slack ask me to connect my account?
The buttons make changes in SuperPath, so SuperPath needs to know the Slack account is yours. Click Connect account, sign in to SuperPath if asked and confirm. You only do this once.
Can I change my mind after approving or declining?
Not from Slack. Open the request in SuperPath to see where it is and what you can change there.
I am an approver but I only see Review in SuperPath. Why?
Pathway approvals always open in SuperPath, because they are reviewed step by step. Every other approval request has Approve and Decline buttons.
Who can do this
The Slack buttons follow exactly the same rules as approving in SuperPath, once you have linked your Slack account. Nobody gets more access in Slack than they have in SuperPath.
- Steps and assignments: Owners and Admins can approve or decline any learner's submission. Managers, Content Managers, People Managers and Instructors can approve where they are a named approver, the learner's direct manager, or the person who assigned the Pathway.
- Learning requests: anyone named as an approver on the learning, whatever their role.
- Self registrations: Owners and Admins.
Employees and Restricted users do not receive approval requests unless they are named as an approver on a learning request.
Updated on: 14/10/2026
Thank you!