In this post, we are going to dive deeper into the project management tools tucked into your Microsoft 365 subscription. By comparing two robust options - Lists and Planner - it will help you decide which one could be the ace in your project management toolkit.

Lists: Your data, organised with ease

Looking for a way to manage your data efficiently? Microsoft Lists is a web-based app (with a desktop option that links seamlessly!) that will present your information in a clear, table-style format.

• Love Excel? You'll definitely love Lists. It's like Excel's cousin from the city - slick, structured, and savvy.
• Templates galore: whether you want to start from scratch or tweak a template so it's done in half the time, Lists has a growing range of templates to work with.
• Teamwork makes the dream work: collaborating with team members or clients, in real-time, is easy when you're all working from the same (live) data!

Planner: For that visual vibe

If you (or those you work with) prefer a more visual approach to project management and tasks, then Planner is where you need to be. With a task board layout, it's perfect for management projects at a glance.

• Kanban-style organisation that easily allows you to categorise tasks and track progress in a visually appealing way.
• Never miss a beat: Planner syncs with Outlook to keep you and your team on track with reminders, and integrated calendars.
  
• Integrations that just 'click': big things are coming for Planner, to enhance the existing integrations with ToDo and Teams. And if you like some of the features of tools like Project, then Planner is the one to watch!

Choosing your champion

When it comes to choosing between Lists and Planner, the reality is that it's all about YOU, and what's going to work best for your specific needs. But here's the lowdown:

Lists is ideal if you like seeing things in a structured, tabular format. A great example is for inventory lists, workload tracking, or onboarding.

Planner is perfect for visual thinkers, and anyone who manages deadlines closely. It's great for large projects with lots of individual steps, or social media content. 

But here's something you need to remember ... it's not a life or death choice. In fact, you can have both! 

Sometimes, the best solution for one task, project, or situation isn't going to be the right one for something else! And that's the beauty of these programs. By having access to BOTH of them inside your Microsoft 365 subscription, you can choose the right one (that is, the one that aligns with your working style, and helps you achieve the goal of that particular project or workflow!) on a case by case basis!

So, give them a test drive, have a play, and see how you can use them to organise and plan better on a daily basis!