ClickUp as a project management tool
We will be looking into ClickUp, a project management tool. This may turn out to be the tool you were looking for. That is what happened to me when I found it.
Table of contents:
- Need for a project management tool.
- Features required in a project management tool.
- Features of ClickUp.
- Personal thoughts.
Need for a project management tool
Managing few tasks is no big deal. We can have them in our memory.
You are working on a project or you are starting a new business. Now you have tons of things to remember and keep track of them. Many of us might have started from paper pen, note taking apps, todo reminders etc. They don’t fully give what is required for managing a project.
↪️Any work or even a business is a project, so I’ll be using the word project from now on(it holds a general meaning).
We need a tool which can hold all our project tasks, documentations or notes, planning, team members, progress monitoring etc…
Features required in a project management tool
1. Milestone setting.
We should be able split up the project in a calendar view. Mapping project is very much essential to know the time and effort required for completion. It also helps us to see our progress over the period of time.
2. Team management
A team management system is required for adding, assigning roles and permissions of team members. A team is required for working on any project. We should be able to assign tasks and allow few authoritative benefits based on permissions.
3. Grouping and Splitting tasks
Splitting tasks makes it easier and faster to finish. We should be able to split a task into smaller chunks. Splitting the task makes it easier to picture and understand its complexity. We should be able to group tasks into folder structure one within another. This will allow us to manage tasks better.
4. Estimated time setting, Time tracking and Reminders
Its an experimental fact that we finish the task quicker when there is a deadline. We should be able to set estimated time for each task and try to finish them within that time. Deadline keeps our focus towards the task and we finish it quickly.
Time tracking helps us to analyze time taken by each task and helps in coming up with a better plan for our future projects. It will show our best and worst areas of work.
Reminders can be huge help in meeting the deadline.
5. Note taking
Most of our ideas come as we go with the work. There should be note taking option with all the features of a modern text editor like markdown support, embedding links, importing data from other sources like csv, embedding files and code snippets.
Features of ClickUp
1. Workspaces
We can create workspaces by splitting a project or by area of work for example one workspace for finance related tasks and other for HR related tasks. Each workspace is its own environment. We can add team members to a particular workspace.
2. Grouping of Tasks
We can group tasks based on modules of the project like a list for queries, issues, future ideas etc into folder and lists of their own. It provides lot of customization on view also.
3. Task customizations
ClickUp provides lots of customization options. We can add deadlines, set priorities, assign it to someone, add estimated time and tracker to track them. We can create our own customized field as well.
4. Time tracking and Due date setting
5. Text Editor
It has a very good text editor with tons of features. You can keep all your notes here. Sharing is also easy. You can add notes into each task for your reference or for the other person to whom you are sharing that task.
6. Widgets for enhanced usage
Above features suffice for most of the users. If you want any particular extension for your business use case you can get them also. Just check them out its easier that way.
7. Importing from other management tools
You might be working on some other tool. Many a times we don’t pick new tools even though they are better than our current ones because its really hard to migrate. ClickUp offers many migration options.
8. Integrating with other tools
It also provides integration options. Now you can create or assign tasks from within those tools.
These are few of the many features they offer. Check their website for more detail.
Personal thoughts
ClickUp is an amazing tool for project management. I ended up here after trying so many tools. There are tons of tools out there which offer free usage for small or individual purposes. But I felt ClickUp is best in terms of features. If you are a small team free version might fulfill your needs. As your business grows you can go for paid features.
I tried using ClickUp for all my day to day tasks along with projects which I didn’t like the experience. ClickUp shines in project management but don’t make it an all task management tool. I use Google keep for quick note taking. Its easy to keep track of list of tasks separated by tags. Its mobile app is best suited for quick notes for me. If you are comfortable with something else go with it. I feel using a lightweight and fast app is better for quick note taking.
I used to use ClickUp’s text editor for taking note of my project ideas and other things. But as I started using Notion, now I use Notion for all my note taking, and project ideas . I use ClickUp only if it is related to that project workspace.
↪️If you want to learn more about Notion, check out my other blog here.
⚠️ Note: Even if a single tool can do everything, everybody has their own preferences and way of using it. So try out different tools and find out what best suites your need.
Thank yourself for learning something new.
Stay curious… Stay creative…
