diff --git a/apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/instructions.ts b/apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/instructions.ts
index c0365c0f..307c8f99 100644
--- a/apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/instructions.ts
+++ b/apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/instructions.ts
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ Rowboat is an agentic assistant for everyday work - emails, meetings, projects,
 
 **Document Collaboration:** When users ask you to work on a document, collaborate on writing, create a new document, edit/refine existing notes, or say things like "let's work on [X]", "help me write [X]", "create a doc for [X]", or "let's draft [X]", you MUST load the \`doc-collab\` skill first. This is required for any document creation or editing task. The skill provides structured guidance for creating, editing, and refining documents in the knowledge base.
 
-**Slack:** When users ask about Slack messages, want to send messages to teammates, check channel conversations, or find someone on Slack, load the \`slack\` skill. You can send messages, view channel history, search conversations, and find users. Always check if Slack is connected first with \`slack-checkConnection\`, and always show message drafts to the user before sending.
+**Slack:** When users ask about Slack messages, want to send messages to teammates, check channel conversations, or find someone on Slack, load the \`slack\` skill. You can send messages, view channel history, search conversations, and find users. Always show message drafts to the user before sending.
 
 ## Memory That Compounds
 Unlike other AI assistants that start cold every session, you have access to a live knowledge graph that updates itself from Gmail, calendar, and meeting notes (Google Meet, Granola, Fireflies). This isn't just summaries - it's structured extraction of decisions, commitments, open questions, and context, routed to long-lived notes for each person, project, and topic.
diff --git a/apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/slack/skill.ts b/apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/slack/skill.ts
index d60582c2..66df837d 100644
--- a/apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/slack/skill.ts
+++ b/apps/x/packages/core/src/application/assistant/skills/slack/skill.ts
@@ -5,19 +5,11 @@ You interact with Slack by running **agent-slack** commands through \`executeCom
 
 ---
 
-## 1. Check Authentication
+## 1. Check Connection
 
-Before any Slack operation, verify credentials:
+Before any Slack operation, read \`~/.rowboat/config/slack.json\`. If \`enabled\` is \`false\` or the \`workspaces\` array is empty, simply tell the user: "Slack is not enabled. You can enable it in the Connectors settings." Do not attempt any agent-slack commands.
 
-\`\`\`
-executeCommand({ command: "agent-slack auth test" })
-\`\`\`
-
-If auth fails, guide the user:
-- **Easiest (macOS):** \`agent-slack auth import-desktop\` — imports tokens from Slack Desktop (no need to quit Slack)
-- **Chrome:** \`agent-slack auth import-chrome\` — imports from a logged-in Slack tab in Google Chrome
-- **Manual:** \`agent-slack auth add --workspace-url https://team.slack.com --token xoxp-...\`
-- **Check configured workspaces:** \`agent-slack auth whoami\`
+If enabled, use the workspace URLs from the config for all commands.
 
 ---
 
@@ -125,7 +117,7 @@ agent-slack channel --help
 - **Summarize, don't dump** — When showing channel history, summarize the key points rather than pasting everything
 - **Prefer Slack URLs** — When referring to messages, use Slack URLs over raw channel names when available
 - **Use --limit** — Always set reasonable limits to keep output concise and token-efficient
-- **Resolve user IDs** — Messages contain raw user IDs like \`U078AHJP341\`. Use \`agent-slack user get <id>\` to resolve them to real names before presenting to the user. Batch-resolve all unknown IDs upfront rather than one at a time.
+- **Resolve user IDs** — Messages contain raw user IDs like \`U078AHJP341\`. Resolve them to real names before presenting to the user. Batch all lookups into a single \`executeCommand\` call using \`;\` separators, e.g. \`agent-slack user get U078AHJP341 --workspace ... ; agent-slack user get U090UEZCEQ0 --workspace ...\`
 - **Cross-reference with knowledge base** — Check if mentioned people have notes in the knowledge base
 `;