How to Create a Project Planning Dashboard in Notion

Creating an effective project planning dashboard is essential for successfully managing project Timelines, milestones, and overall progress. Notion, an all-in-one Productivity tool, offers a flexible platform that continues to evolve. In this article, we will guide you through an updated process for building a project planning dashboard in Notion. This approach leverages current Notion features and best practices to help you stay organized, focused, and on track.

Step 1: Set Up the Workspace

1. Create a new Notion page and title it something like Project Planning Dashboard.
2. Divide the page into clear sections with headings. For example, use titles such as Project Overview, Timelines, Milestones, and Progress Tracker.

Step 2: Project Overview

In this section, provide a high-level summary of your project including its objectives and key details. Consider including:

• A brief project description
• Project owner or manager information
• Names of team members
• Key stakeholder details

This overview sets the stage for the detailed tracking in later sections.

Step 3: Timelines

Timelines are crucial for managing deadlines and understanding the flow of your project. Notion’s current database views offer more dynamic options for visualizing time-based data.

1. Create a new table in the Timelines section.
2. Add columns for important elements such as Tasks, Start Date, End Date, and Status.
3. Populate the table with your project tasks and deadlines.
4. Convert the table into a visual timeline by selecting the database, clicking on the view options in the top-right corner, and choosing the Timeline view. You can also switch to a Calendar view if you prefer a date-centric perspective. For more details, see this guide on an Interactive timeline.

Step 4: Milestones

Milestones mark significant achievements or phases in your project. Tracking them separately makes it easy to see critical deliverables.

1. In the Milestones section, create a new table.
2. Add columns such as Milestone Name, Description, Target Date, and Actual Date.
3. Enter data for each milestone.
4. Enhance your overview by switching to the Board view. This view lets you drag and drop milestones across stages like Upcoming, In Progress, or Completed, providing visual clarity on project status.

Step 5: Progress Tracker

Keeping a close eye on progress is vital for timely project delivery. Notion allows you to build a comprehensive progress tracker with dynamic properties.

1. Create a new table within the Progress Tracker section.
2. Add columns like Task, Assigned To, Start Date, Due Date (see Due Date guide), and Progress Status.
3. Fill out the table with each task’s details.
4. To create visual feedback, add a formula column that calculates the percentage of completion based on the progress status. This column can display a visual progress bar or a numeric percentage to help spot delays or challenges quickly.

Step 6: Linking Sections

Interlinking sections helps you navigate your dashboard efficiently. You can use Notion’s linking feature to connect related information.

1. In the Project Overview section, insert links to the Timelines, Milestones, and Progress Tracker sections. Type @ followed by the section title to create a quick link.
2. In both the Timelines and Milestones sections, create links back to Project Overview. This keeps all essential information connected and easily accessible.

Step 7: Customizations and Additions

Notion offers a wide range of customization options to tailor your dashboard to your needs.

1. Modify table appearances by Changing fonts, adding colors, or inserting Emojis for extra visual appeal.
2. Use the Tags property in your tables to categorize tasks by priority, team, or phase.
3. Enhance your dashboard by embedding documents, linking project resources, or integrating Notion with other tools using its recently updated API capabilities.
4. Experiment with different views (e.g., List, Gallery, or Calendar) to find the layout that best suits your project needs.

Creating a project planning dashboard in Notion is a powerful way to manage timelines, track milestones, and visualize progress. By following these updated steps and taking advantage of Notion's latest features, you can build an engaging, interactive workspace that supports successful project completion.