Tips for Effective Dashboard Use

Get the most out of your dashboards with these role-specific recommendations.

Tips for Project Managers

Check Burndown Daily

The burndown chart reveals schedule risk early. A diverging actual vs expected line indicates:

Scope creep - More tasks being added than completed
Velocity problems - Team completing fewer tasks than planned
Estimate issues - Original timeline was too aggressive

Address divergence as soon as you spot it, not when deadlines approach.

Monitor High-Risk Items

Address unassigned risks immediately. Every day a high-priority item sits unassigned is a day of potential schedule impact.

Daily checklist:

Review Open High Risk Items count
Ensure each item has an owner
Verify mitigation plans are in progress

Review Milestone Progress

Identify milestones falling behind schedule. The Milestone Status widget shows:

Which milestones are on track (green)
Which are at risk (orange)
Which are already overdue (red)

Focus your attention on at-risk milestones before they become overdue.

Track Team Velocity

Use velocity trends to forecast completion dates. If velocity is:

Increasing - You may finish early; consider scope additions
Stable - Forecasts are reliable
Decreasing - Investigate causes; adjust timeline or scope

Tips for Team Leaders

Balance Workload

Use the team board to spot overloaded team members. Signs of imbalance:

One column significantly longer than others
Team member with multiple high-priority items
Someone with no active tasks (underutilized)

Redistribute work proactively rather than waiting for complaints.

Track Completion Trends

The Team Velocity chart shows team capacity over recent weeks. Use this data to:

Set realistic sprint commitments
Identify when the team needs support
Celebrate productivity improvements

Follow Up on Deadlines

Active tasks due this week need attention. Early in the week:

Review what's due
Check for blockers
Offer help where needed
Escalate issues that can't be resolved

Celebrate Wins

Tasks completed this week shows team productivity. Share this metric in team meetings to:

Recognize hard work
Build team morale
Demonstrate progress to stakeholders

Tips for Individual Contributors

Start with Upcoming Deadlines

Focus on high-priority items due soon. Each morning:

Check the Upcoming Deadlines metric
Identify your top 3 priorities
Address blockers early
Communicate if you can't meet a deadline

Review Your Work Board

Visual view of your current assignments helps you:

See everything at a glance
Track work in progress
Avoid overcommitting
Identify stalled items

Watch Your Weekly Output

Use the "Tasks This Week" card to understand your completion patterns over time:

Are you improving week over week?
What's a realistic weekly task count for you?
When do you do your best work?

Use this self-awareness for better time estimates.

Clear Action Items

Address items in your action item lists promptly. Open items can:

Block others from making progress
Accumulate and become overwhelming
Delay project milestones

Check the "My Documents", "Open Risks Waiting on Me", and "Decisions Waiting on Me" widgets regularly.

General Best Practices

Check Dashboards at Consistent Times

Build a habit of reviewing your dashboard:

Morning - Plan your day based on priorities
Mid-day - Check for new urgent items
End of day - Review what was accomplished

Explain the Calculation

When a card shows an Info (i) icon, click it to open a breakdown of exactly how the metric is computed. This helps you:

Understand exactly what's being measured
Verify the data is accurate
Explain metrics to others

Not every card has one — the icon only appears when the dashboard author added an explanation.

Set Meaningful Targets

Targets are part of a dashboard's saved definition. Edit a dashboard in the AI builder to set targets that make sense for your context:

New projects may need lower initial targets
Mature teams can aim higher
Adjust as circumstances change

Share Dashboard Insights

Use dashboard data in your communications:

Status reports with actual metrics
Team meetings with visual progress
Stakeholder updates with trends