Project tracker

For project managers to work effectively, they need organization. But when it comes to tracking many different projects at once, even the most organized people can get turned around. A project tracker template helps you keep tabs on multiple projects across teams in the same structured way. 

What is a project tracking template?

A project tracker template is a reusable layout that helps you organize and manage multiple projects in one place. It provides your team with an easy way to schedule tasks, assign owners, set deadlines, and track progress as projects move forward. You can use project tracker templates to prioritize, prevent missed steps, and keep everyone updated as the project develops. They’re also helpful with portfolio management.

Why use a project tracking template

How you track projects can dictate how organized and focused your team members are. Company-wide, this subtle difference can have a considerable impact. When you’re able to track projects effectively in the same way across teams and departments, you set your entire workforce up to be more productive.

In addition, project tracking templates: 

• Give you a single place to view project status and identify pending deliverables.

• Keep your project schedule up to date with deadlines, milestones, and sequencing.

• Break work into repeatable project phases so teams follow the same structure every time.

• Connect your project tracker to a launch roadmap to keep planning and execution aligned.

• Assign owners to project tasks and simplify handoffs across team members.

• Coordinate Agile project management by connecting work to sprints when necessary.

In short, project tracker templates help you reduce work about work, so your team spends less time deciding how to track projects and more time moving them forward.

How to use a project tracker

If you’re wondering how to make a project tracker, begin with a straightforward system that helps your team organize tasks, assign responsibilities, and coordinate deadlines.

• Create your project tracker template. Build your project tracker template in Asana and add sections for phases, workflows, and deliverables. Giving it structure helps you streamline setup for every new team project tracker.

• Add tasks and assign owners. List tasks in your project tracker and assign an assignee to each task. This transforms your tracker into a simple, effective tool for daily task management.

• Break down big tasks into subtasks. Add subtasks to organize important tasks and prevent missed steps. Your project tracker can double as a simple task tracker when work gets busy.

• Set dates and key milestones. Add due dates and project milestones to guide your workflows. A good project tracking template makes it easier to plan allocations and spot timing issues early.

• Update task statuses as your project progresses. Change task statuses so your team can track progress without extra meetings. Regular updates inform your team and stakeholders and help you deliver a successful project.

• Review performance and plan follow-up. Check metrics, agree on action items, and confirm project goals. Use that review to adjust project budget, prioritize initiatives, and confirm project resources.

Asana project tracking features

• List View. Use List View to see all of your project’s information in one place. It works like a to-do list and shows tasks, owners, and due dates at a glance.

• Timeline View. Use Timeline View to map work across time and spot overlaps early. You can also see dependencies so your team can plan around handoffs.

• Dashboards. Use Dashboards to review graphs that summarize your project’s progress. You can quickly spot blockers and adjust before timelines slip.

• Portfolios. Use Portfolios to track multiple projects in one view. You can share status updates and keep stakeholders aligned without extra meetings.

Recommended Asana project management apps and integrations

• Jira Cloud. Automatically create Asana tasks from Jira issues, and vice versa, or sync issues, tasks, projects, comments, assignees, custom fields, and more.

• Google Workplace. Attach files directly to tasks in Asana using the Google Workspace file picker, built into the Asana task pane. Easily attach any My Drive file with just a few clicks.

• Figma. Teams use Figma for user flows, wireframes, UI mocks, and prototypes. You can embed Figma files in Asana, so your team can reference the latest designs in context, and live embeds update in real time as the design changes.

• OneDrive. Attach files directly to tasks in Asana using the Microsoft OneDrive file chooser, built into the Asana task pane. Easily attach files from Word, PowerPoint, Excel templates, and more.

FAQs about project trackers