How to Create a Gantt Chart in 9 Easy Steps

In an earlier video, I described what a Gantt Chart is, in under 5 minutes. But I keep getting asked how to create one. So, in this video, I’ll show you exactly how to make a Gantt Chart.

1. List your Tasks
The best place to start for this step is with your Work Breakdown Structure (WBS). Whether you represent your WBS as products or tasks, you can still get at the tasks easily.

2. Set Your Constraints
Do any of your tasks have fixed start or completion dates that you have to respect. Add this information to your list of tasks.

3. Set Your Dependencies
Which tasks are dependent upon others? Usually, these will be Finish-to-Start dependencies, but others are possible though far less common.
Once you have your dependencies, there are two things you can do:
• Add in any lags or leads
• A lag is a gap between the tasks that are dependent. For example,
• Sequence the tasks within a group, to make your final Gantt Chart easier to read.

4. Allocate Resources to Tasks
Identify the right resources (people) for each task. Check their availability and confirm their willingness to work on the task.
Where two tasks use the same person, you won’t be able to schedule them to happen at the same time – unless the person is working part-time on each.

5. Estimate Durations
For each task, estimate how long it will take the people you have allocated to that task to complete it.

6. Create Your Gantt Chart Grid or Template
A Gantt Chart has rows that represent the tasks and columns that represent days, weeks, or some other time interval.

7. Plot Your Activities onto Your Chart

8. Add Milestones to Your Chart
You can decide your milestones up-front, at the start of the process (Milestone Planning) and use them as constraints to help you plan. Or, you can select milestones from the completion of important tasks and groups of tasks. Or a combination of both. We have videos on Milestones for you to watch.

9. Make Your Gantt Chart as Useful as Possible
Apply color-coding and shading to make different tasks stand out. Use colors or labels to associate resources with tasks. Add arrows to indicate dependencies.
Whatever you do to make your Gantt Chart a better communication tool, always remember to add a key or legend, so that users can understand your coding.

Recommended Videos
How does a Gantt Chart fit into your larger Project Plan? Do take a look at our video:

More carefully curated video recommendations for you:

A while back, I asked Project Managers in a couple of forums what material things you need to have, to do your job as a Project Manager. They responded magnificently. I compiled their answers into a Kit list.
Note that the links are affiliated.

#Project #ProjectManagement #GanttChart

[Onlinepmcourses]

Gantt Charts are the poster child for Project Management. So every Project Manager needs to be able to create a simple Gantt Chart. Here's my simple 9-step forula.

[flashtheoriginal]

Once again, Mike - effortless and so concise. What a communicator. Thank you

[TheXoXoXo]

Just in time, I have to submit a Gantt chart for class next week !

[faithagada]

Thank you, I have a Gantt chart task. This is helpful

[abhimanyupatial]

Dear Mike the way you train is phenomenal, I have been in to project Manager role since 3 years however wasn't very aware of the fact that how it maps to project management exactly. I am almost about to finish all your videos and you are an institution yourself. Kudos to your commitment in sharing what you have learned from hard work. It reflects as the way you explain, its all naturally flowing from your inside. Apart from your videos I have been exploring your website which has much more to share. Hard to find and mentor and coach like you.

[xupjo]

I'm from Taiwan 🇹🇼, and the video is really helpful, thank you so much!

[robkahn]

This is super helpful and thoughtful. Thanks Mike!

[InfluentialPMO]

Well, this is a perfect video Mike! You keep raising the bar :-). Excellent content - I’ll be sharing with my colleagues.

[phenyomatjila]

Thanks a lot Mike, this was indeed helpful and I am subscribing to the channel to further understand the content and conceptualise project management as a whole 🙏

[cfenech]

I'd be very interested in how to create the network diagram from the WBS Mike. I like your style and wondering if you have covered this?

[andreyru]

i prefer to first list the tasks, then put durations and only then make tasks dependencies. In this case you can put durations with a calm head, more objectively without adjusting them to the constrains right away and making unrealistic short durations. Then look at the whole picture and depending on the constraints finetune the plan where necessary.

[bengarick]

Step 10.... Baseline. Too often plans are not baselined and if you are not tracking against a form of baseline then you are unable to see the movement of the plan and understand where potential risk lies.
That said, I woud probably replace step 9 with Baselining, Colour coding and legends is not as important and the baseline. Most PMs will use a level 0/1 timeline or PoaP for updates and communications.