Note: What some people call a timeline is actually a gantt chart. If you're looking to build a gantt chart, we recommend you build one in TeamGantt. You can also use our free Excel gantt chart template to build a bare-bones gantt chart in Excel.
While Word is a powerful tool, it's usually not the best option for managing projects and processes. However, it can be a great solution for sharing timelines as part of client status updates.
If you already have a document you want to insert a timeline into, open your existing Word file, and place the cursor where your timeline should go. Starting from scratch? Create your document now by opening Word, and clicking File > New Document.
With your cursor placed where you want to insert the timeline, click Smart Art, and choose a timeline style from the Process menu. Select any design you like—it can always be changed easily later.
The timeline comes preloaded with a few basic events. You can edit these events to match those in your project. Simply click [Text] in the first placeholder event, and rename it. Repeat the process for the remaining two default entries. Once you’ve edited the final default entry, just hit Enter or click + to create a new event. Continue this step until all your main project events have been added.
When you’re a project manager, every minute counts. So why waste time building out a bunch of complicated spreadsheets just to keep tabs on a project?
At TeamGantt, you don’t have to. Our free online gantt chart software enables you to stay focused on the tasks that move the needle. Whip up a project plan in minutes, and watch your team cross the finish line faster. It really is that simple.