In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the ins and outs of creating and managing dashboards in Monday.com. You’ll learn how to set up effective dashboards, customize them to meet your needs, and use them to enhance project visibility and team performance.

Why Use Dashboards in Monday.com?

Dashboards in Monday.com serve as a central hub for visualizing your data and managing your workflows. They allow you to aggregate information from multiple boards and present it in a clear, organized format. Here are some of the key benefits of using dashboards:

1. Centralized Data: Dashboards provide a single view of all your important data, making it easy to monitor project progress and track key metrics across multiple boards.

2. Enhanced Visibility: Visualizing your data in a dashboard format helps you quickly identify trends, spot potential issues, and make informed decisions.

3. Improved Collaboration: Dashboards can be shared with team members, promoting transparency and fostering a collaborative work environment.

4. Customizable Widgets: Monday.com dashboards are highly customizable, allowing you to add widgets that display the specific information you need, such as charts, graphs, and calendars.

5. Real-Time Updates: Dashboards are updated in real-time, ensuring that you always have access to the most current information.

Getting Started with Dashboards in Monday.com

Creating a dashboard in Monday.com is a straightforward process. Here’s how to get started:

1. Accessing the Dashboard Center:

Log in to your Monday.com account and navigate to your workspace. Click on the “+ Add” button located on the left sidebar under the “Dashboards” section. From the dropdown menu, select “New Dashboard.”

2. Naming Your Dashboard:

Give your dashboard a descriptive name that reflects its purpose. This helps team members quickly identify the dashboard and understand its focus.

3. Selecting a Dashboard Template:

Monday.com offers several dashboard templates tailored to different use cases, such as project management, sales tracking, and team performance. You can choose a template that matches your needs or start from scratch with a blank dashboard.

Choosing the right template can save time and provide a structured starting point for setting up your dashboard. You can always customize it further to suit your needs.

Adding and Customizing Widgets

Widgets are the building blocks of your Monday.com dashboard. They allow you to display specific information, such as tasks, charts, calendars, and more. Here’s how to add and customize widgets on your dashboard:

1. Adding Widgets:

Click on the “Add Widget” button on your dashboard. You’ll see a menu of available widgets, such as “Numbers,” “Chart,” “Calendar,” “Battery,” and more. Select the widget you want to add and click “Add to Dashboard.”

●     Numbers Widget: Use this widget to display key metrics, such as the number of tasks completed, the total budget spent, or the average time to complete a task.

●     Chart Widget: Visualize your data with bar charts, pie charts, and line charts. This widget is great for tracking progress over time and identifying trends.

●     Calendar Widget: Display your tasks and deadlines on a calendar, making it easy to manage your schedule and keep track of important dates.

2. Customizing Widget Settings:

After adding a widget, click on the widget’s settings icon to customize its appearance and data source. For example, you can change the chart type, select specific boards and groups to display, and adjust the widget’s size and position on the dashboard.

●     Data Source: Select the boards and groups you want to display in the widget. You can aggregate data from multiple boards to get a comprehensive view of your projects.

●     Display Options: Customize the appearance of the widget, such as the chart type, color scheme, and labels. This helps you create a visually appealing dashboard that effectively communicates your data.

Use a combination of different widgets to create a well-rounded dashboard that provides a complete view of your project’s status and performance.

Customizing Your Dashboard Layout

Monday.com dashboards are highly customizable, allowing you to arrange widgets in a way that best suits your needs. Here’s how to customize your dashboard layout:

1. Rearranging Widgets:

Click and drag widgets to move them around your dashboard. You can place widgets side by side or stack them vertically to create a layout that fits your workflow.

2. Resizing Widgets:

Click on the bottom-right corner of a widget and drag to resize it. This allows you to adjust the size of each widget to ensure that important information is prominently displayed.

3. Adding Sections:

Use sections to organize your widgets into different categories. Click on the “Add Section” button to create a new section and give it a descriptive name. This helps you create a structured layout that’s easy to navigate.

Group related widgets together in the same section to create a logical flow of information. For example, you might have a section for “Project Overview” with widgets displaying key metrics and a section for “Team Performance” with widgets tracking individual contributions.

Advanced Dashboard Features

To get the most out of your Monday.com dashboards, consider using some of the platform’s advanced features:

1. Using Filters for Dynamic Dashboards:

Filters allow you to dynamically update your dashboard based on specific criteria, such as task status, assignee, or due date. Here’s how to use filters to create dynamic dashboards:

●     Applying Filters: Click on the filter icon at the top of your dashboard and select the criteria you want to filter by. For example, you can filter tasks by status to only display tasks that are “In Progress” or “Completed.”

●     Saving Filtered Views: Save your filtered views as separate dashboards to create different perspectives on your data. For example, you might have a “High-Priority Tasks” dashboard and a “Completed Tasks” dashboard.

Use filters to create targeted dashboards that focus on specific aspects of your projects, such as upcoming deadlines, team workload, or budget tracking.

2. Creating Dashboard Automations:

Automations in Monday.com allow you to automate repetitive tasks and keep your dashboard up-to-date. Here’s how to set up automations on your dashboard:

●     Accessing the Automation Center: Click on the “Automate” button located at the top right corner of your dashboard. This will open the Automation Center, where you can create and manage automations.

●     Choosing an Automation Recipe: Monday.com offers a variety of pre-built automation recipes that you can customize to fit your needs. For example, you can set up an automation to update a widget when a task status changes or send a notification when a deadline is approaching.

Use automations to keep your dashboard updated in real-time, ensuring that you always have access to the most current information.

3. Sharing Dashboards with Your Team:

Dashboards are a powerful tool for promoting transparency and collaboration among team members. Here’s how to share your dashboard with your team:

●     Sharing Options: Click on the “Share” button located at the top right corner of your dashboard. You can share your dashboard with specific team members, make it public to your organization, or generate a shareable link.

●     Collaborative Features: Use Monday.com’s collaborative features, such as comments and mentions, to engage with your team directly on the dashboard. This helps facilitate discussions and ensure that everyone is aligned.

Encourage your team to provide feedback on the dashboard and suggest improvements. This helps create a collaborative environment where everyone feels involved and invested in the project’s success. Check out this step-by-step guide with photos to help you navigate through.

Best Practices for Managing Dashboards in Monday.com

To get the most out of your Monday.com dashboards, it’s important to follow some best practices for managing them effectively:

1. Regularly Update Your Dashboard:

Keep your dashboard up-to-date by regularly reviewing and updating the data it displays. This ensures that your team always has access to the most current information and can make informed decisions.

●     Scheduled Updates: Set a regular schedule for updating your dashboard, such as weekly or bi-weekly. This helps ensure that your dashboard remains relevant and accurate.

●     Automated Updates: Use automations to automatically update your dashboard based on changes in your data. This reduces the need for manual updates and ensures that your dashboard is always up-to-date.

Set up notifications to alert you when key metrics are updated, such as when a project milestone is reached or when a task is completed.

2. Use Dashboards for Goal Tracking:

Dashboards are a great tool for tracking progress towards your team’s goals. Here’s how to use dashboards for goal tracking:

●     Setting Goals: Use the “Numbers” widget to set specific goals for your team, such as completing a certain number of tasks or achieving a specific budget target.

●     Tracking Progress: Use charts and graphs to visualize your team’s progress towards their goals. This helps motivate your team and ensures that everyone is aligned on what needs to be achieved.

Use conditional formatting to highlight areas where your team is falling behind or where additional attention is needed. This helps ensure that your team stays on track and meets their goals.

3. Leverage Dashboards for Reporting:

Dashboards are an excellent tool for creating reports that provide a comprehensive view of your team’s performance. Here’s how to use dashboards for reporting:

●     Custom Reports: Create custom reports that aggregate data from multiple boards and present it in a clear, organized format. For example, you might create a “Monthly Performance Report” dashboard that tracks key metrics across all your projects.

●     Exporting Data: Use Monday.com’s export features to download your dashboard data as a PDF or Excel file. This allows you to share your reports with stakeholders and keep a record of your team’s performance.

Use Monday.com’s presentation mode to display your dashboard during meetings and presentations. This helps keep everyone focused and ensures that your data is clearly communicated.

Advanced Tips for Mastering Dashboards

For those looking to take their dashboard skills to the next level, here are some advanced tips for mastering dashboards in Monday.com:

1. Utilize Formulas for Advanced Calculations:

Formula widgets allow you to perform complex calculations using data from your boards. Here’s how to use formulas for advanced calculations:

●     Creating Formulas: Click on the “Add Widget” button and select the “Formula” widget. Use Monday.com’s formula editor to create custom calculations based on your data, such as calculating the average time to complete a task or the total budget spent.

●     Visualizing Formulas: Use the “Chart” widget to visualize your formula calculations, making it easy to track key metrics and identify trends.

Use formulas to create dynamic dashboards that provide a deeper understanding of your team’s performance and help you make data-driven decisions.

2. Integrate Dashboards with Third-Party Tools:

Integrating dashboards with third-party tools can enhance their functionality and provide additional insights. Here’s how to integrate dashboards with other tools:

●     Using Integrations: Monday.com offers a wide range of integrations with popular tools, such as Slack, Google Drive, and Salesforce. Use these integrations to bring data from other tools into your dashboard and create a unified view of your projects.

●     Custom Widgets: Use Monday.com’s API to create custom widgets that display data from third-party tools directly on your dashboard. This helps centralize your data and reduce the need to switch between different platforms.

Use integrations to create a seamless workflow that enhances collaboration and improves productivity. For example, integrate your dashboard with Slack to receive real-time updates and notifications.

3. Use Dashboards for Resource Management:

Dashboards are a great tool for managing your team’s resources and ensuring that everyone is working efficiently. Here’s how to use dashboards for resource management:

●     Tracking Workload: Use the “Workload” widget to track your team’s workload and ensure that tasks are evenly distributed. This helps prevent burnout and ensures that everyone is working at their optimal capacity.

●     Monitoring Availability: Use the “Calendar” widget to monitor your team’s availability and plan tasks accordingly. This helps ensure that tasks are assigned to the right people and that deadlines are met.

Use dashboards to create a balanced workload that maximizes productivity and ensures that your team is working efficiently.

Conclusion

Creating and managing dashboards in Monday.com is a powerful way to enhance project visibility, improve collaboration, and boost productivity. By leveraging the platform’s customizable widgets, advanced features, and integration capabilities, you can create dynamic dashboards that provide a comprehensive view of your projects and help your team achieve their goals.