Starting a new project can be exciting — but also a little overwhelming. That’s where tools like monday.com come in. Whether you’re managing a team, launching a personal project, or just trying to stay organized, monday.com provides an intuitive platform to streamline your work. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to set up your first board in monday.com, so you can hit the ground running.

What Is a Board in monday.com?

In monday.com, a board is like a digital workspace where all your tasks, projects, or workflows are organized. Think of it as a customizable spreadsheet on steroids, where you can assign tasks, set deadlines, collaborate with your team, and visualize your progress. Boards can be simple or complex, depending on your needs.

Step 1: Sign Up or Log In to monday.com

Before you can create a board, you’ll need a monday.com account.

• Visit monday.com and sign up with your email address.

• Choose a template that matches your use case (or skip this step if you prefer to start from scratch).

• Log in to access your workspace.

If you’re part of a team, you might have been invited to an existing workspace. In that case, just accept the invite and log in.

Step 2: Create a New Board

Once you’re in your workspace:

1. Click the ”+ Add” button or the ”+ New” button on the left sidebar.

2. Select New Board.

3. Give your board a name. Choose something specific, like “Marketing Campaign Q2” or “Website Redesign.”

4. Choose the board’s privacy settings:

• Main Board: Visible to everyone in your workspace.

• Private Board: Only visible to people you invite.

• Shareable Board: For collaboration with people outside your organization.

Click Create Board to get started!

Step 3: Set Up Your Groups

Groups are color-coded sections that organize your tasks on a board.

For example, you could have groups like:

• To Do

• In Progress

• Completed

To add a group:

• Click “+ Add Group” at the bottom of your board.

• Name your group according to its purpose.

Groups help keep everything organized and make it easier to track progress at a glance.

Step 4: Add Your Items

In monday.com, items are individual tasks or entries on your board.

To add an item:

• Click “+ Add Item” under a group.

• Type in the name of the task or deliverable (e.g., “Design Homepage Banner”).

You can add as many items as you need. Later, you’ll be able to customize each one with deadlines, owners, statuses, and more.

Step 5: Customize Your Columns

Columns are where the real magic happens. They allow you to add details to each item. Some popular column types include:

• Person: Assign a team member.

• Status: Track progress with colorful labels like “Done,” “Working on it,” or “Stuck.”

• Date: Set a deadline.

• Text: Add notes or descriptions.

• Numbers: Track hours worked or costs.

To add a column:

• Click the ”+” sign next to your last column.

• Choose from dozens of options, or search for the type you need.

Columns make your board highly customizable and tailored to your workflow.

Step 6: Automate Your Workflow (Optional)

One of monday.com’s best features is automation. Automations can save you time by automatically performing actions based on triggers.

For example:

• When a status changes to “Done,” notify the project manager.

• When a date arrives, move the item to a new group.

To set up an automation:

• Click the Automations button at the top of your board.

• Browse templates or create a custom automation.

Automations help keep your projects moving without constant manual updates.

Step 7: Invite Your Team

Now that your board is set up, it’s time to invite collaborators!

• Click Invite at the top right.

• Enter email addresses or invite users from your organization.

Assign tasks to team members and collaborate directly on the board. Everyone will be able to comment, update statuses, and track progress.

Step 8: View and Share Your Board

monday.com offers multiple views to see your board in different formats:

• Table View: A classic spreadsheet style.

• Kanban View: Cards in columns (perfect for agile teams).

• Timeline View: A Gantt chart-style timeline.

• Calendar View: See your tasks on a calendar.

To add a new view:

• Click + Add View at the top of your board.

• Choose the format that works best for you.

You can also share your board by creating a shareable link or inviting external guests.

Tips for Setting Up Your First Board Successfully

• Start simple: Don’t overwhelm yourself with too many columns and automations at first.

• Name everything clearly: Use clear, descriptive titles for your groups, items, and columns.

• Use templates: monday.com offers a wide range of board templates for different industries and needs.

• Update regularly: Encourage your team to update statuses and dates to keep the board useful.

• Review settings: Adjust permissions and notification settings to fit your workflow.

Final Thoughts

Setting up your first board in monday.com is easy and incredibly rewarding. In just a few steps, you can transform a messy project into a well-organized, collaborative space. Whether you’re managing marketing campaigns, product launches, HR processes, or personal goals, a well-built board will keep you and your team aligned and productive.

Now that you know the basics, it’s time to create your own board and start managing your work like a pro. Happy planning!