Work progress chart is an effective tool to help managers track employee productivity. Through this, businesses will know clearly the work performance as well as the results that employees have achieved. So how to make the most accurate work progress to bring efficiency to work? Let's find out with Viindoo through the article below.
How to make a work progress schedule using Excel
Making the work progress chart with Excel is an answer to how to effectively manage work. Through the progress table, businesses can track the work progress of employees. Each employee in the company will also timely grasp the project progress and be able to complete the work in the best way. Right now, Viindoo will help readers learn about how to create an Excel file to track work progress.
Step 1: Write the title and the necessary information
Write a title for the table | DEPARTMENT'S WORK PROGRESS CHART… |
Write down the notes in detail | Businesses need to pay attention to the meaning of each letter to classify A, B, C, or D in the top row. This aims to support the management to divide the work of each member of the team in the most reasonable and scientific way. |
Enter a name for each column | Each content of the table will correspond to a column. |
Adjust the table’s width | Each column needs to be aligned and adjusted to the appropriate width. |
Create a color palette to divide each column | Black out the whole board => Design => Table Styles => Banded Rows |

Businesses need to write a title for the board
Step 2: Format the contents for the table
After entering the necessary data, the manager can format the content. In the schedule table, some operations need to be set up to ensure information. Therefore, managers should know how to format so that the content stays intact and works in sequence. Some specific actions are:
- Using Data Validation to create a Dropdown List: Thanks to the Dropdown list, businesses will not have to spend too much time typing each piece of content. Especially the information that is repeated continuously such as frequency, main activity array, and rating.
- Automatically mark red when the deadline is near: Each job will be tied to a specific deadline. As a result, employees sometimes can't grasp the full progress. In order to minimize this problem, businesses should set up a red self-marking mode when the work has reached the deadline.

Dropdown List helps to minimize retyping the same information
For example, The steps to mark the deadline for the work to be completed in 6 days are:
- Select the cell with the target completion date and perform the format change to date month year.
- Click the Home tab => Conditional Formatting => New Rules.
- Continue to click Format only cells that contain in the Select a Rule Type dialog box.
- In the Format Only Cells with a dialog box, start setting the Cell Value (format for the value of the cell) and Less than (smaller).
- =TODAY()+6: The Today function will start calculating the value from today and add 6 days. Then, if the displayed value is less than 6, the cell will automatically be ticked in red.
- If you want to change the format for the checked cell, select Format.
- The white text will be changed in the Font section and the box will be red in the Fill section.
- Select OK and press OK to start the setup.

Mark deadlines for each job
Step 3: Freeze the title
In the work progress chart, the manager should freeze the header. This will make the tracking and monitoring process more effective. At the same time, the content is not moved too much. The specific steps are:
- Installers click on the line below the title.
- At the View tab, click Freeze Panes => Freeze Panes.
>>>> See More: Project management with Google Sheets quickly and effectively
Excel File Template to track work progress
When making a schedule of work in Excel, businesses will monitor and evaluate work performance better. At the same time, employees can easily meet deadlines and balance their own time. Now, let's explore with Viindoo the right sample of Excel file to track work progress used by many businesses.
- Timeline management excel template
Timeline template is an Excel template that helps businesses keep track of time for each task. In particular, managers can set milestones for specific activities. As a result, businesses will know what work the whole company should focus on in the current period.
For example, the Timeline template facilitates departments, members, and related departments to track project items. In particular, each group can also closely follow the working process and understand the task. Therefore, the set goals can be completed on time and with high results.

Timeline management excel template - Timeline template
>>>> More Reference: Eisenhower time management matrix and how to apply it effectively
- Gantt chart excel template - Gantt Chart template
Gantt charts help businesses create items for each job. In particular, this Excel template is also a great tool for sequencing, time, and object implementation. The managers will directly mark the start and end of the project. As a result, members can know which tasks need to be prioritized. However, this diagram is often applied to jobs that are simple, less overlapping, and easy to build.
In addition, instead of using Excel to draw diagrams manually, readers can refer to Viindoo task management software with the ability to draw diagrams to manage work progress and projects effectively.

Gantt chart pattern on Viindoo software
- To-do list excel template
To-do list template is an indispensable tool for every business. This Excel template helps employees track progress toward goals. At the same time, the To-do list template also prioritizes tasks. As a result, each employee will manage the completion time and make the most of their productivity at work.
- Issue tracking template excel - Issue tracking template
For the most part, each project often encounters many problems. The issue tracking template is an effective tool to help track the progress of each project. As a result, the work will be done efficiently and without repeating the same mistakes. At the same time, the excel template also supports recording the reason, manager, and time the problem occurred.

Issue tracking excel template
- Weekly timecard template excel template
Weekly time card template is one of the popular work progress chart templates. Businesses can record project start and finish times. Besides, the working process will be clearly listed by week. As a result, employees can perform each task in a logical manner. This excel template also helps management to solve problems arising in the group.

Weekly time card excel template
- Project tracking excel template
Project tracking template supports the monitoring of business tasks and goals. As a result, management will know whether employees are doing the right job or not. At the same time, businesses also manage the budget and time for each project.
- KPI tracking excel template - KPI tracking template
KPI is an indicator that clearly measures the results achieved by employees. However, manual management often has many errors. Therefore, businesses should use KPI tracking template to track the performance of each project. Templates help managers to ensure work progress and employee productivity.

KPI tracking excel template
The article has helped businesses learn about the work progress chart. This is an effective tool to help businesses manage employee performance. At the same time, the leadership also monitors the progress of completing the goal and finds ways to fix it when there are problems. Viindoo Hopes the above article will help businesses make good use of chart templates for management purposes.
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