Keep delivery on track and catch problems early

Plans fall apart quietly. Consistent tracking means issues surface when they're still easy to fix — not when a client asks why a deadline was missed.

Delivering projects

Read time

10 minutes

Goal

Track work execution

Primary Tool

Workflows & Reports

Why this matters

A task slips without a comment, time gets logged to the wrong place, a milestone passes unnoticed. Consistent tracking closes those gaps before they become delivery failures.

Task completed

Outcome

Spot problems early

Real-time visibility into task progress, logged time, and blockers means issues get resolved in days, not discovered at the end of a project.

Life preserver

Helps you

Keep stakeholders informed

Regular, structured reporting replaces ad-hoc updates and builds trust so clients always know where their project stands without having to ask.

Unlocked padlock

Unlocks

Workflows, Timeline & Reports

These features depend on consistent task data like logged time, status updates, and dependencies. Without them, reporting is incomplete.

Key actions

01 - Give every project consistent stages so progress is always visible

Workflows create a common language across your team — everyone knows what each stage means, and moving work forward is a single drag-and-drop.

  • Create a workflow that reflects your delivery process (e.g. To Do → In Progress → Review → Complete).

  • Apply the same workflow across multiple projects for consistent reporting and visibility.

  • Set automations that trigger when tasks move between stages, such as notifying reviewers or flagging blockers.

  • Save workflows into your project templates so every new project starts with the right structure.

02 - Use dependencies to prevent work from starting before it's ready

Dependencies make sequencing explicit and prevent scheduling conflicts before they happen — so teams aren't reworking deliverables that relied on something unfinished.

  • Add task dependencies to define what must be completed before other work can begin.

  • Use the Timeline to see how tasks connect and adjust dates by dragging directly in the view.

  • Export a Timeline PDF for client updates or project reviews.

03 - Keep all decisions and context on the task — not in email

Task-level communication means context follows the work. Anyone can pick up a task and understand exactly where it stands, without hunting through inboxes.

  • Log updates, decisions, and blockers directly in task comments rather than in chat or email.

  • Use @mentions to notify teammates or clients when their input or action is needed.

  • Enable notifications for key events like status changes, overdue tasks, and new comments so the right people stay informed.

04 - Log time as work happens — not at the end of the week

Time logged as tasks are completed is accurate. Time reconstructed on Friday afternoon isn't. The difference shows up directly in your profitability reporting.

  • Log time directly on tasks to capture effort as work progresses.

  • Mark time as billable or non-billable at the point of logging — don't leave it to be corrected later.

  • Compare estimated vs. logged time regularly to identify tasks that consistently take longer than planned.

05 - Share regular project health reports so there are no surprises

Stakeholders who don't hear anything assume everything is fine — until it isn't. Regular reports build confidence and surface risks while there's still time to act.

  • Use the Project Health Report to summarize progress, milestones, and any risks or blockers.

  • Include metrics like completed tasks, logged time, and budget status so reports are data-driven, not narrative.

  • Share updates with clients and stakeholders on an agreed schedule.

  • Use the Project Dashboard as a real-time snapshot between formal reports.

Key concepts

  • Workflows vs. task status

    Task status tells you whether work is open or closed. Workflows tell you where in your process it sits and what needs to happen next. Workflows make your delivery process visible and consistent across every project.

  • Estimated vs. logged time

    Estimates represent what you planned. Logged time reflects what happened. The gap between them is where planning improves — not by guessing better, but by learning from the difference over time.

Best practices

  • Do this

    • Apply a consistent workflow across all projects so progress tracking is comparable.

    • Log time directly on tasks as work happens — don't reconstruct it at end of week.

    • Use task comments for decisions and blockers so context lives with the work.

    • Share project health reports on a regular, agreed schedule.

    • Add dependencies before the project kicks off so sequencing is clear from day one.

  • Watch out for

    • Running projects without workflows. Without stages, progress is invisible and reporting unreliable.

    • Logging time in bulk at end of week. You lose task-level accuracy and the data becomes unreliable.

    • Keeping project communication in email or chat. Decisions get lost and work loses context.

    • Waiting until a deadline is missed before reporting to stakeholders.

Next steps