Find out how to make a Gantt Chart using Microsoft Excel – as used by professional project managers.
1. Set your timeline across the top. Each column should be a time unit – e.g. week / month.
2. Allocate a row underneath the timeline for “Milestones“.
3. Setup a row for each deliverable, as a list of line items underneath your Milestones row.
4. Make the first column larger to allow for deliverable titles.
5. Set out your deliverables in the rows arranged in time order, with the first one at the top.
6. Alternate the rows with two different colours or shades so that they are easy to differentiate at a glance.
7. Test it on a friend. Ask them “Is this easy to understand?” and optimise it with their feedback.
Avoid common Gantt mistakes
- Don’t make your Gantt Chart too complex! It should fit on one side of A4.
- Keep it up to date! Things change as a project rolls out, so make sure you update it regularly.
- Keep the number of milestones manageable! Too many milestones makes people lose focus.
Example Excel Template
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Use these templates to help with business best practice:
Gantt Chart Excel Template
Create a gantt chart in Microsoft Excel quickly with this Gantt Chart Excel Template. It includes 12 month, 18 month and 24 month formats, with 2-4 workstreams. The format is Google Sheets compatible.
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