My sister is a great cook. She's one of those people who can make a delicious meal out of a little bit of rice, random leftover vegetables and dried spices. She rarely has to, because she always has a fully stocked freezer, fridge and pantry. She can entertain a houseful of people at a moment's notice. I, on the other hand, go to the grocery store with endless possibilities and come home with just a loaf of bread and some cheese.
I really want to have great home cooked meals on a regular basis. But I look at recipes, ingredients and those appliances in my kitchen and I get a little overwhelmed. My trusty loaf of bread and gourmet cheese gets me by. (I am a master of the grilled cheese!)
When my sister and I are visiting with each other, she often enlists my help with both grocery shopping and meal preparation. For holidays and birthdays, my gifts are often cookbooks, spices and kitchen gadgets. It's her subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) way of getting me over my fear of my kitchen. It's working. Slowly.
Let's help policyIQ users get over their fear of the Dashboard
I think the same principle applies to the policyIQ Dashboard. Users know that if set up properly, the Dashboard can be a great landing page to keep track of tasks, updates and commonly accessed content. But our experience is that so many users just leave the Dashboard alone, not taking the time to customize it for their unique needs. The default gets them by, and any adjustments seem overwhelming.
In the past year, we've dedicated a couple of blog posts to what various types of users should consider putting on their Dashboards. Check out these older posts for ideas on what Dashboard items would be most beneficial:
As for the "how", that's easy!
Step 1: Remove any current Dashboard items that aren't adding value for you
There is a small "X" in the top right corner of every Dashboard item. If you aren't an approver, for example, remove any Dashboard items related to approvals. They'll always be empty and clutter up your view.
Step 2: Add Dashboard items that you do want to see when you open policyIQ
Click on Add in the toolbar above your Dashboard to see the complete list of items that are available for you. Your options will vary based on your user type and permissions.
Select items that will be valuable - including Charts that can visually display key administrative information. If you are a Site Administrator, for example, consider adding Administrative Overview to keep track of the size of your site or the number of pages. Check the boxes beside items that you want to add and click Save.
Step 3: Drag and drop to rearrange in the order that makes the most sense
Now that you've selected the items that make the most sense for you, simply drag and drop the various Dashboard items into the order that works. For example, if you need to quickly access your reports most often, put Favorite Reports right at the top.
As loyal policyIQ blog readers, you probably have already rearranged your Dashboard to work for you. But have your colleagues or other users? Pass a link along to this post - or copy the step-by-step instructions above along with suggestions for their best Dashboard items for them! And of course, don't hesitate to reach out to the policyIQ team if you need any help or would like some personal suggestions for the best Dashboard options.
Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to run to the grocery store to pick up some tortillas, veggies and steak. I will conquer my own fears with fajitas!