In the simplest terms, a task manager is a nice to-do list, but it’s even better.
A task manager helps you make sure that you can manage everything you need to do in one day. But it’s not just about personal activity tracking. You can also manage the work of your team.
To start tracking your work, you must first make a comprehensive list of everything you want to accomplish right now. You can create this list on paper, in a Word document or spreadsheet, or in whatever way is most convenient for you.
This is the step where you’ll need to collect your mail, scan your inbox, and check where important work may be hiding. 85% of users waste up to 2 hours per week looking for lost information, so this is your chance to check that lost data right away.
Make sure the tasks you list are just tasks, not tasks or goals. You want to include things like “set up project management” and “assign work to salespeople”, not “increase productivity by 30%”.
Once you have a complete list of tasks, sort them by importance. The easiest way to do this is usually through due dates, but be sure to think about other reasons why work may be more important than the work that was due earlier. Then set a time limit for each task. This is especially important if you are following up on customer service and need to keep track of payment deadlines. It is also useful for you to have a better understanding of team productivity.
Finally, add each item to your task tracker. Be sure to include any files, attachments, or other information required to complete each task. Assign tasks to yourself or your team.
Above all, remember to update your service provider regularly! Doing a little bit every day is more effective than waiting a few days – or weeks – and falling behind.
Use project tracking software to track progress
The best way to manage projects is within a project management system, using digital tools to ensure that all your team members can collaborate, wherever they are. A digital forum like monday.com is the best choice because:
- Any member can access and update the to-do list from anywhere, anytime
- Having a job comes in stages to keep people on track
- There is complete transparency: you can see what everyone is working on at any time
- It’s easy to integrate and share essential resources within the platform