## Terminology changes

Our terminology has been adapted. **Paragraphs** allow you to add a text box visible to all the attendees of a meeting. **Notes** are private and only visible to the user who adds them. An easy way to distinguish them is by their yellow background.

## Private notes

From now on, it is possible to add private notes to the items of your meeting agenda. This allows you to prepare your interventions for the upcoming meeting or to add private notes during the meeting. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_1_notes_privees_1024x575_a6cdb0cb62.png)

## Converting elements

If you wish to share your private note with the other attendees, you can simply convert it into a paragraph. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_2_convertir_note_en_paragraphe_1024x575_a92c2a02b7.png)

To save valuable time, you can also convert most of the other elements: 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_3_conversion_d_elements_1_1024x329_220931708f.png)

Please note that it is not possible to convert a task into another element! 

## Ordering items

It is possible to order all the items of the meeting. Simply drag and drop an item to reorder it. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_4_ordre_de_elements_1024x575_124c4c92c0.png)

## Option « Table of attendees »

If you wish to have a detailed contact list of the meeting attendees, there is an option accessible through the settings of a meeting. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_5_parametres_dune_reunion_1024x575_6ea65fc9df.png)

By selecting « extended table view » in the settings of the meeting, the table will appear in steps 2, 4 and 5\. The coordinates of the attendees are listed according to the information of each user’s profile. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_6_tableau_des_participants_1024x575_ac91837cea.png)

During the editing steps, the meeting agenda in preparation and the drafting of the meeting minutes, you can manually edit an attendee’s contact information. It is also possible to change an attendee’s function for a specific meeting. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_7_editer_un_participant_1024x575_ce2682d04e.png)

## Link between a task and a meeting 

Tasks created in a meeting have a link in their details pane that allows you to easily access an item of the meeting agenda. This will allow you to view the task in its context of creation. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_8_lien_tache_reunion_1024x575_19c86d6606.png)

## General ergonomics

### Use the new + button to easily create content. 

You can create your **Workspaces**, **Checklist templates**, **Teams** and **Users** from the + button which is found in the heading at the top of the page.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_9_bouton_plus_1024x575_be06c4f954.png)

### Take advantage of the shortcuts in the main menu

Three buttons have been added to the menu for an easy access to the **Workspaces** and **Checklist templates** to which you have access, as well as to the **Users** page.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_09_10_raccourcis_menu_principal_1024x575_983d87326b.png)

The main menu has been redesigned for simplicity and efficiency; and presents a new palette of colors. 

Private notes allow you to prepare your interventions confidentially during meetings. This latest update includes a new platform design and new functionalities described in the following article. 

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Add private notes to your meetings

To prepare and conduct your meetings, WEDO guides you in 5 steps: 

* **Before the meeting – Steps 1 and 2** : preparation of the agenda as a team. The writer or facilitator adds the meeting, establishes the list of items to be discussed and then invites participants to complete the agenda.
* **During the meeting - Step 3 :** the writer writes the minutes in real time. All participants can attend live note-taking.
* **Post-meeting - Steps 4 and 5 :** the writer and participants review, edit and validate the meeting minutes.

Through this article, discover some tips to conduct your meetings with WEDO taking into account the 5 proposed steps. You will see that at each step, it is possible to keep the participants informed and make them aware of their role in the preparation and follow-up of the meeting. To give substance to our explanations, we propose a concrete case study:

### The preparation and follow-up of an Executive Committee by Agathe Rost[^1], Executive Assistant 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_1_agathe_rost_assistante_de_direction_1_28994aba97.png)

## Step 1: Meeting agenda in preparation

Agathe Rost, Executive Assistant, decided to prepare the agenda for the next committee meeting in a week's time. The director of the organization, Bernard Macherel\*, sent her by email the list of topics to be discussed. Agathe goes to the workspace dedicated to the Executive Committee and adds a meeting. After entering the title, date, time, duration and location of the meeting, she focuses on the list of participants. The members of the Executive Committee workspace have been added automatically to save her precious time.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_2_etape_1_liste_des_participants_1_c9f6a790ca.png)

Agathe now wishes to manage the different access rights of the participants. For this meeting, Mathilde and Bernard have all the same rights as Agathe. The other participants will only be able to modify the agenda items in steps 1 and 3\. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_3_etape_1_fenetre_gestion_des_droits_dacces_1_ef9ce2fac2.png)

Next, Agathe wishes to add the items to the agenda. With a few clicks, she copies the list of topics previously listed by her director and pastes it into the input bar. The items are created automatically and now appear in the table of contents on the left side of the screen. Agathe can now schedule them as she pleases.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_4_ordre_du_jour_en_preparation_1_a8a936bb7b.png)

The outline of the meeting is ready. Agathe would like to inform participants to add their notes to the agenda items. To do so, she sends an email to participants directly from the platform by clicking on the **button with the envelope**.

The participants are listed as recipients. Agathe takes advantage of the predefined subject and message to save time and clicks directly on **Send by email**.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_5_etape_1_fenetre_envoi_email_1_f43b0491ca.png)

## Step 2: Meeting agenda validated

On the eve of the meeting, the agenda has been completed by all participants and is normally no longer subject to change. After a brief rereading, Agathe can validate the agenda and proceed to step 2 by clicking on **Meeting agenda is ready** in the red banner at the bottom of the screen.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_6_lordre_du_jour_est_pret_1_bf5d544104.png)

Agathe finally has to add a last minute information in one of the agenda items. From the orange banner at the bottom of the screen, she **edits the meeting agenda**.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_7_etape_2_editer_lordre_du_jour_1_fadc608e95.png)

## Step 3: Meeting minutes currently written

On D-Day, Agathe returns to the previously prepared meeting. The meeting is in step 2 - Meeting agenda validated. At the bottom left of the screen, she clicks on **Start Meeting**.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_8_commencer_la_reunion_019e71f2e5.png)

Agathe begins by completing the information about the participants. She checks off the absent and excused persons. She also adds the reason for the apology in the field provided. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_9_etape_3_controle_des_presences_58eb3b17f3.png)

The meeting begins: Agathe is ready to write up the minutes of the discussions. As she writes it, she navigates easily from point to point using the table of contents and adds notes, decisions and tasks to the various points discussed. At the end of the meeting, Agathe clicks on the **End Meeting** button in the yellow banner at the bottom of the screen.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_10_clore_la_reunion_fe0d06e165.png)

## Step 4: Meeting minutes in review

A few hours after the meeting, Agathe would like to review the minutes. She returns to the Executive Committee workspace, resumes the meeting in Step 4 - Meeting minutes in review. To make corrections, she clicks **Edit Minutes** in the purple banner at the bottom of the screen. Once the changes have been made, she clicks **Finish**.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_11_etape_4_editer_le_compte_rendu_6c73d6a8e7.png)

## Step 5: Meeting minutes locked

A few days after the meeting and after a final reading, Agathe can finally move on to the last step. In order to follow up from one meeting to the next, she decides to lock the minutes. The minutes can no longer be modified. 

To do this, she clicks the **Lock meeting minutes** button in the purple banner at the bottom of the screen and follows the procedure required for locking.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_12_verrouiller_le_compte_rendu_c71e61095f.png)

Finally, Agathe sends an email to participants to inform them that the minutes have been locked. They are invited to read it again in order to ensure a follow-up from one meeting to the next. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_06_13_etape_5_fenetre_envoi_email_775e9cddb1.png)

The 5 proposed steps frame the overall conduct of a meeting and allow users to situate themselves in the process. At each step, you have the possibility to inform the participants so that they can get involved in the preparation of the agenda and in the review of the minutes. WEDO allows you to improve the management of your meetings while reinforcing the collaborative aspect. 
[^1]: Fictional characters.

#### Would you like to facilitate the preparation and conduct of your meetings? 

::button-primary[Schedule a live demo]{link="/demo"}

Agathe Rost, Executive Assistant, is responsible for preparing the next committee meeting. Through this article, find out how she works with WEDO.

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The preparation and follow-up of an Executive Committee

Although meetings are integral to a company, there are many executives and employees who complain about their length being sometimes excessive. In January, a study conducted by Doodle[^1]  revealed that Swiss employees spent an average of 5 hours per week in meetings. So how can you improve the efficiency of meetings? 

An endless meeting is often the result of poor preparation. To save time during a meeting, there are a few steps that should not be neglected. The moderator, as well as the attendees, must contribute to the elaboration of the meeting in order to plan its frame and progress. The meeting agenda, which represents the discussion thread, needs to be established according to the goals of the meeting in order to stay focused. This will help employees progress efficiently without wasting time. 

## Before the meeting – a collective preparation 

### Ask yourself the right questions and set clear goals

> _According to the survey on meetings presented by Doodle, 72% of the interviewed employees think that a good meeting goes through clearly set goals!_

Before scheduling a meeting, key questions need to be addressed: 

**What is the purpose of the meeting?** The outcome of the meeting will serve as a guideline. This preliminary question will allow you to highlight the interest of the meeting for the attendees. 

**What are the main topics to address?** The following step is to define the topics to be addressed during the meeting to achieve the desired goal. These topics will be the items of the meeting agenda.

**Who are the people involved?** A meeting with a large number of presenters is likely to drag on. It is therefore important to gather only those who are directly involved in the topics, decisions and tasks to be performed. 

**What is the estimated time for the meeting?**  According to the number of topics to be addressed, try to estimate and set the duration of the meeting and stick to it on the day of the meeting.

### Establish an organized and clear meeting agenda

> _According to the survey on meetings presented by Doodle, 67% of the interviewed employees think that a good meeting goes through a clearly established meeting agenda._

**List the different items in the meeting agenda >**  A meeting agenda consists of a list of items that resume the topics to be covered during the meeting. The establishment of a precise meeting agenda will ensure efficiency and rapidity during the meeting and will thus avoid unnecessary digressions and off-topic debates. Depending on the topics to be addressed, you can build the frame of the meeting by choosing, for example, a list of points hierarchized in different levels (ex: 1., 1.1, 1.2, 1.3,). If this organization does not seem relevant to you, you can try to group the items to address according to criteria that makes sense regarding the type of meeting: _departments or services concerned, addressed topics, topics ordered according to the interventions of different presenters, steps of the project to realize,_ etc.

**Define the role of the presenters >**  Depending on the established items, define who will speak during the meeting. In order to avoid taking attendees by surprise, schedule each person’s interventions ahead of time according to the meeting agenda. This will encourage them to prepare the meeting and will improve the efficiency and length of the discussions.

**Make the meeting agenda accessible to allow attendees to consult it >** Once the meeting agenda has been established, make sure to share it with all the attendees a few days before the meeting. A good preparation of the different interventions will contribute positively to the smooth running of the meeting. Furthermore, a previously established meeting agenda is likely to ensure a well-organized and productive meeting. The attendees will feel concerned and will not have the impression that the upcoming meeting will be wasting their valuable time.

## During the meeting – the roles of the meeting moderator and the drafter

### Progress according to the set order 

On the day of the meeting, keep the goal of the meeting in mind. The moderator of the meeting is responsible for its smooth running and must avoid any misplacements by following rigorously the pre-established meeting agenda. This will avoid the attendees to feel lost and they will be able to follow the discussions by referring to the common frame previously diffused. 

### Address the covered topics in a systematic way

The moderator of the meeting must try to facilitate the task of the meeting minutes drafter by being clear and rigorous in the way he conducts the meeting. By discussing each item of the meeting agenda in a systematic way, you will ensure a productive meeting and meeting minutes drafting while avoiding wasting time. But how can you discuss the various items of the meeting agenda in a systematic way? 

Here is a solution that considers the discussion of each item of the meeting agenda following three steps that will come out as three separate blocks of information in the meeting minutes: 

**Step 1 – the minutes of the discussions:** Every topic covered in a meeting generally leads to a discussion that will need to be transcribed in the meeting minutes > _this constitutes the first block of information of the discussed item._

**Step 2 – the result of the discussions:** The decisions and high points of the preliminary discussions should be highlighted > _this constitutes the second block of information of the discussed item._ Many employees often complain about leaving a meeting without really knowing which major decisions were made. Highlighting them will avoid that kind of uncomfortable feeling.

**Step 3 – tasks arising from the decisions:** The attendees will have to perform various tasks to reach the set goals > _this constitutes the last block of information of the discussed item._ Thanks to a clear division of tasks to perform, the attendees will be operational as soon as the meeting ends. This will avoid people forgetting what they are supposed to do from a meeting to the next. 

This method will encourage you to proceed in an efficient manner and will facilitate the drafting of the meeting minutes. Furthermore, when the attendees will have to review the meeting minutes, they will easily obtain the necessary information. Needless to say, certain items will not require such a structure and can therefore be covered far more quickly – for example by using only one of the three proposed blocks of information. 

In summary, the success of a company meeting is largely dependent on its preparation. By focusing on clearly set goals and on a clear meeting agenda, you will necessarily limit the length of your meetings and thus keep the attendees active and concerned. Establishing a meeting agenda can sometimes seem tedious. The trick is to create a meeting agenda template according to the different meetings that you conduct. This way, from one meeting to the next, you will only have to make a few changes to the template of the previous meeting agenda for the upcoming meeting, without having to create a new one each time. 

Do you want to facilitate the preparation and conduct of your meetings?

::button-primary[Schedule a live demo]{link="/demo"}

[^1]: To carry out the study in question, more than 6’500 professionals from the United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland and the United States were interviewed. 

Do your company meetings tend to drag on? In this article you will find a few tips to limit their duration! 

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How to limit the duration of a meeting?

## Table of contents

The table of contents facilitates the browsing through the meeting minutes. Furthermore, a single click will bring you to the item to be treated. From the table of contents, you can also:

* Decrease the indentation of an item
* Increase the indentation of an item
* Delete an item
* Drag and drop the items and/or sub-items to organize them

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_01_diapositive1_c190e8d7b5.png)

## Item by item

For this new version, the drafting has been redesigned: from now on, only the item to be treated will appear on the screen. Once you are done with an item, you just need to click the button with the title of the next item to be treated to progress in the drafting. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_01_diapositive2_2_d8f1773246.png)

## Redesigned Toolbar 

Each item and sub-item has its own Toolbar. From the **\+ button** you can:

* Attach a file
* Add a note
* Add a decision
* Create a task
* Add a sub-item to the meeting agenda
* Import tasks from the workspace

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_01_diapositive3_3_e41bc9c72a.png)

## The “move” button 

It is now possible to move a note, a decision, a task or a file to another item in the meeting agenda. Click the button with the **three vertical points** (1) and **Move the note** (2). A window will open with all the possible destinations. Click the item to which you wish to move your note (3). The same procedure applies to move a decision, a task or a file.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_01_diapositive4_3_7828884129.png)

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_01_diapositive5_1_68b88ca912.png)

## The pending tasks box 

Pending tasks from the workspace are now available in a box that you can access with a button. 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_01_diapositive6_8c12348415.png)

From the pending tasks box, it is possible to import tasks into a specific item: click the tasks to import (1) and, with the drop-down list, select the item in which you want to import the tasks (2). Then, click **Import** (3).

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_01_diapositive7_6e99b65c52.png)

_Info : if you would like your pending tasks to figure as an item in your meeting agenda, like in the previous version, you can simply create an item entitled “Pending tasks” and import all the pending tasks from the workspace._ 

## The 5 steps of the meeting

At all times, you can see which step of the meeting you are in. The user with all access rights can click on each step to change the status of the meeting.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_01_diapositive8_3f51cf7d39.png)

_Info : other buttons at the bottom of the page also allow you to switch from step to step._ 

## Display of access rights of each attendee

You can now click on the attendees of a meeting to see the distribution of access rights. Click on the attendees (1), a window will open with a list of the meeting attendees and their access rights for the current meeting (2). 

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_01_diapositive14_c86280b5bd.png)

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_01_diapositive15_07a2d15e76.png)

This can be useful if you need to modify meeting minutes but you do not have the appropriate access rights. You can then spot the attendees who have full access rights on that meeting, who will be able to change your access rights. Attendees with full access rights are represented by a logo with a crown on a blue background. 

\-

A collection of articles explains all the ins and outs of the new Meetings module.

::button-primary[Access the Help Center]{link="https://help.wedo.swiss/en/collections/3202989-meetings"}

The new version of WEDO revises the meeting module to simplify the drafting of the meeting minutes. With this article, discover the improvements this update offers!

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Meeting module : improvements that will facilitate the drafting of your meeting minutes

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> _Sick of long, unproductive meetings? Two Fribourgeois propose a digital solution, WEDO, to make them efficient. Explanations._

Between three and six weeks a year: that's the time we spend on average in work meetings, according to a survey published in 2017 by the Opinionway Institute for the business consultancy firm Empreinte Humaine. According to this survey of a thousand employees in companies of various sizes and in a variety of economic sectors, nearly one out of every two sessions is considered unproductive. More than 25% of the respondents do not see the need to participate. As a result, 44% of them discreetly use their smartphone to do something else during this time (typically reading and sending emails).

This scourge has a name: Meeting madness. Antoine Sudan and David Dutch suffered from it for several years after graduating from engineering school. "Meetings are not useless in themselves," they say at the outset. "The problem is that they are poorly prepared, the agenda is not respected and you come out of them far too often without being sure of what has been decided. Amazed at the time they spent on this commendable but frustrating exercise, Antoine Sudan and David Dutch developed the WEDO web application. That was in 2014\. Today, four years and thirty updates later, this web application is used by more than a hundred organisations, municipalities and companies in French-speaking Switzerland, including Groupe Mutuel, Groupe E Connect, HES-SO Fribourg and Banque Cantonale de Fribourg.

Neither blockchain, Dropbox, nor intranet, WEDO is a collaborative platform whose layout automatically adapts to the size of the screen you use (iPhone, PC...). It is in fact an interface with a common and participative space. Very didactic, it has been designed to be within everyone's reach. Regardless of its functionalities and technical qualities, the WEDO application is based on in-depth reflection and careful analysis of the factors that make working meetings so often disappointing and time-consuming. In other words, this organizational solution has been developed to respond directly and pragmatically to certain recurring problems. One example: the agenda often remains a little vague until everyone is gathered around the table. To avoid this, WEDO offers a feature that allows you to record and schedule the items to be discussed. Once this is done, simply open the application and follow the thread of questions. No more digressing, in short.

## EASY TO KNOW WHO'S DOING WHAT

The minutes are a chore? Thanks to WEDO, it is possible to write it live. "This is one of the interesting features of our meeting management module. You have an agenda, with a series of items to be discussed, and you can add under each item blocks of information, whether they are notes, decisions or tasks to be carried out," explains Antoine Sudan. Decisions made and tasks assigned during meetings can then be recorded by the minute writer at the time. Since this information is displayed in a specific place in the module and all participants have a personal access account, it is very easy to retrieve this information later. In short, at the end of the session, everyone knows where to find the answer to the famous "who does what" question.

In addition, it is possible to export an agenda or minutes by generating a PDF file so that it can be shared, printed and signed. You can also easily create extracts from minutes, or retrieve notes through the minutes using simple keywords. Gone are the days when you had to open multiple files to get your hands on information!

"The strength of WEDO is that it covers all phases of meeting management: before, with the preparation of the agenda, during, with the taking of important notes, and finally after, with the follow-up of tasks. Indeed, in addition to our module for meeting management, we have developed another one for task management and scheduling, and both interact with each other. Therefore, you have the means to ensure a continuous and dynamic follow-up of the work. This way, you can see at any time what has been done between sessions and what remains to be done. You no longer have to wait to obtain or pass on information, nor do you have to send several confirmation e-mails or call three times to find out how much a quote will cost," says David Dutch. In addition, each user can activate synchronisation with his electronic calendar (Outlook, Google Calendar...).

## MEETINGS SHORTENED BY ONE THIRD

It is also possible to create specific spaces for certain projects, departments or work teams, so that tasks can be distributed in one click. As soon as a job is indicated as completed, the participants concerned receive immediate and automatic feedback. "All of these processes greatly speed up the processing of decisions and shorten the duration of sessions by an average of one third," says Antoine Sudan.

Solving complicated problems with a simple software: that was the challenge of the creators of WEDO. The first person they told about it - a former professor - predicted that « it would never work ». Which makes them laugh a lot today. « Luckily, our engineering mentality soon got the better of us and we refused to let it get us down ». While many young entrepreneurs start by trying to raise funds, Antoine Sudan and David Dutch decide to develop their application while working and approach their first customers in parallel. They conduct more than 300 interviews for this purpose. Right from the start, they rely on user feedback to improve their product. The first version is officially released in May 2015\. A few prospects test it. « With each new release, we surveyed our customers to find out how we could improve WEDO. And we continue to solicit their opinions and feedback. For example, some of them recently commented that they would have liked to have been able to define specific access criteria, to avoid having participants pop up with irrelevant questions on the agenda. While a General Secretary should certainly be able to modify the agenda, this is not necessarily the case for any participant. So in the latest version of WEDO, we have introduced a new tool to set up access rights very finely ».

  
![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2019_01_wedo_montage_1024x525_23213decc1.png)
  
  
## START WITH A FREE TRIAL

What about the price? According to a common practice in applications, it depends on the number of users. It varies between 15 and 25 francs per person per month. WEDO is available in packs of five, ten or fifteen users; above twenty, packs are sold in increments of ten additional units. The subscription covers all updates, data hosting and support, i.e. all services with the exception of change management during the first year to maximise the chances of success, which is also calculated on the basis of a flat rate depending on the size of the network. 

"But what we always offer in the first place is a free presentation of WEDO. That's why you'll find a big blue button on the homepage of our website [www.wedo.com](/) that you can click on to schedule a demonstration by booking a date at your convenience directly in our calendar," say Antoine Sudan and David Dutch, who claim that the data will only be hosted on servers located in Switzerland.

Source: original article [Le Matin Dimanche](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/article_wedo_matin_dimanche_316cb86cf5.pdf)

Sick of long, unproductive meetings? Two Fribourgeois propose a digital solution, WEDO, to make them efficient. Explanations.

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The cure for meeting madness is called WEDO

## Monitoring of meetings in three steps

The new meeting module (version 2) just came out. It is based on the concepts of the first version but with two new major improvements:

1. Modifications are possible simultaneously by several attendees and
2. The meeting agenda is written item by item for more accuracy

The meetings are still managed in 3 phases:

* Before the meeting: preparation of the meeting agenda
* During the meeting: drafting of the meeting minutes and update of the tasks
* After the meeting: meeting minutes and traceability of the assigned tasks during the meeting

## Preparation of the meeting agenda

Once a meeting has been added, you are asked to choose the attendees and to prepare your meeting agenda item by item.

The items can be reorganized by a simple drag and drop and they are automatically numbered.

On each agenda item, 8 options are available:

* Indent, modify or delete an item.
* Add notes: notes allow you to list the information.
* Add decisions: decisions made during a meeting are clearly visible in the meeting minutes.
* Add tasks: tasks can be linked to precise items of the agenda meeting.
* Attach files: each item can have one or several files.
* Presenter: your meeting agenda is a common thread for the chair of the meeting.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2017_08_diapositive1_1c7e3a55f5.png)

Synchronization of the calendar : once the meeting agenda is prepared, an event will synchronize itself in the agenda of the attendees (compatible with Outlook, Google Calendar, etc).

## Drafting of the meeting minutes and update of the tasks

During a meeting, you will find your meeting agenda item by item with its notes, attached files and linked tasks.

You can then draft one or several paragraphs in each item with the notes system, show the decisions that were made and list the tasks to do for the next meeting.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2017_08_diapositive2_40ae870cd3.png)

The meeting agenda serves as a guide to help you structure your meeting and control the duration of the meeting.

Modification of deadlines and comments on the tasks are also automatically traced by WEDO to be included in the meeting minutes.

## Meeting minutes and traceability of tasks assigned during meetings

At the end of a meeting, the meeting minutes are accessible to all the attendees and each collaborator will automatically receive the tasks that have been assigned to him in his personal space.

Tasks that were completed between two meetings will automatically appear as completed in the following meeting. The task history allows you to visualize all the modifications brought to each task with a link towards the corresponding meeting minutes. In short, WEDO offers a complete traceability of the tasks throughout meetings.

When you create a new meeting, the information of the previous meeting minutes is reused to save you time and avoid having to copy-paste and the risk of mistakes.

## Bonus

### Search

WEDO’s search tool indexes the text of all your meeting minutes through all the workspaces of your network. Simply enter one or several keywords to instantly find a specific file.

### Locking

All meeting minutes can be locked after being reviewed to ensure the traceability and reliability of your archives. 

### PDF export

A single click will allow you to export your meeting agenda and meeting minutes as PDF files. The export module will allow you to select the information you want to keep in the file. This is very practical to generate extracts of the meeting minutes.

## Conclusion and acknowledgments

This new version of the meeting module allows you to save time and money. 

Customers who use this module successfully have confirmed saving up to one hour per meeting because the meeting minutes are drafted during the meeting and not afterwards. They have also noticed that their meetings are approximatively 30% shorter than before. Meetings are better prepared, better focused and thus more effective. They have also noticed a time saving when it comes to decision-making and task management. 

We were able to integrate all the suggestions for improvement from our customers in this latest version. Hence, we would like to thank them for their helpful advice and comments. WEDO will continue to evolve to become a complete collaborative tool, intended primarily for Swiss companies. 

A revisited meeting module that saves up to one hour per meeting due to its simplicity of use and the monitoring of tasks from one meeting to another.

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Redesigned meeting module : simpler, more accurate and more efficient

The latest version of WEDO has a brand new feature dedicated to taking minutes. No need to multiply documents and spend hours updating minutes after a meeting. Write your minutes in real time, validate decisions and plan the resulting actions in the same place and during the meeting. Ensure your communication from decision-making to task completion.

## Start by creating a meeting

In each workspace, you will now find a Meetings tab. The action bar allows you to **Add meeting** to it.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2017_03_diapositive1_ca5496233d.png)

In the small window that opens, give a title and plan your meeting.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2017_03_diapositive1_ca5496233d.png)

## Before the meeting: prepare your agenda

Once the meeting is created, you can add participants, write the meeting agenda, prepare tasks to be discussed, and attach files to be presented.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2017_03_diapositive2_62512669eb.png)

When you click on **Meeting agenda is ready**, it validates this document which will be available in WEDO to all participants.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2017_03_diapositive3_cc594b3ed3.png)

All your colleagues who have access to WEDO will be able to consult all the agendas that concern them in the same place. **In addition, all meetings that users attend are automatically synchronized with their Outlook (or other) calendar.**

## During the meeting: write up your minutes and update tasks

When the meeting starts, you open your previously created agenda and click **Start Meeting**. The screen will then be split in two: the left part for writing the minutes and the right part for updating the tasks in this workspace. Note that tasks previously linked to this workspace will be automatically displayed during a meeting.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2017_03_diapositive4_517abc6065.png)

Changes made to tasks are recorded throughout the meeting. When the minutes are taken and the task list is updated, you can **End the meeting**.

## After the meeting: a structured minutes and assigned tasks

A closed meeting automatically displays a beautiful minutes with all the important information from the meeting: attendees present, absent and excused, the minutes themselves, new tasks, completed tasks, changes in deadlines, comments, and more.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2017_03_diapositive5_1512c15016.png)

Each employee can view all the reports that concern him or her from any device (PC, tablet, smartphone). He automatically receives the tasks assigned to him in his personal space. The tasks are linked to their meeting so that they can quickly find the discussion that led to the task in the first place.

## Search for reports and tasks

In this new version, the search has been improved. A simple keyword allows you to find reports, tasks or activities previously discussed.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2017_03_diapositive6_e1541102903236_564dba249e.png)

## Conclusion

You save a lot of time and energy because you:

* Centralize all agendas and reports,
* Provide everyone with the level of information needed to follow up on their meetings,
* Retrieve the discussions, decisions and actions resulting from them until their execution.

The report writing module is a first step towards an ever more complete collaborative tool. More new features are planned and we would be delighted to hear your opinion on this new module. Do not hesitate to write to us.

## Also to be discovered in this version

* Checklists with key date (tasks that can be scheduled before and after the key date),
* Retractable menu,
* New enriched description for checklists and workspaces.

Perfectly controlled meetings, from decision making to the execution of the task in three steps.

2020-05-complete-module-for-the-dafting-of-minutes

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Complete module for taking minutes

This WEDO update brings a new feature: activity feed. These are chronologies that include all events, comments and notes.

The feeds exist at three levels:

* General activity feed with information about you on your network
* Feeds by topic to view the progress of sessions, projects, services, etc.
* Per person feed to track your history or that of one of your colleagues (depending on your rights)

## Overview of a topic's workflow

This is what the workflow for my "Project Zero Paper" topic looks like:

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2016_09_flux_d_activite_4dc944ad2e.png)

## Note-taking

You can see from the image above that it is possible to add notes in the workflow. This way you can write information for a topic or for your entire network quickly. Using the "Add Recipient" button, you can notify the people affected by your note. It is possible to add **people**, **topics** or checklist **templates** to the recipients.

## Usage example

I would like to inform the whole working group for the "Project Zero Paper" about the next meeting. I am writing a note to this effect. I can add addressees via the button or by entering the title of the subject preceded by an @.

![](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/2016_09_note_avec_mention_7ecec0df0e.png)

## Conclusion

Thanks to the workflows, you can keep up to date quickly and communicate even more easily with people in your network. Feel free to send us your comments and suggestions for improvement via the support in WEDO.

How can I see the progress of a topic at a glance?

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2020-06-activity-feed

Activity feed

Trello

Asana

Decisions

Monday.com

eSéances

MS Teams

MS Planner

Hypercontext

OneNote

Next webinar | Gantt chart : How to get your projects on track

Every day, we juggle a series of tasks, from answering emails and attending meetings all the way to cooking dinner or finally folding that pile of laundry staring us down for days. Task management is everywhere around us, whether we realize it or not. 

But here's the catch: managing tasks is more than checking boxes. It's making sure the right boxes are checked at the right time, by the right people.

For individuals, good task management can mean less stress and more time to spend on what matters most to them. For teams and organizations, it's the difference between controlled chaos and seamless collaboration. When done well, task management becomes a superpower, moving businesses toward growth and ensuring projects are delivered on time (and with fewer sleepless nights).

In this guide, we're going to explore strategies, tools, and best practices that turn task management into a fine-tuned system. Whether you're wrangling your own to-do list or leading a team toward big goals, this can be your roadmap to staying on top of your game. 

Let's get started!


The Ultimate Guide to Task Management: Strategies, Tools, and Best Practices

Have you ever started the day with good intentions, only to have emails, meetings, and last-minute requests completely derail your focus? You had a plan, maybe even a neatly written task list, but by lunchtime, you’ve barely touched the important work you meant to do. Instead, you’ve been bouncing between messages, putting out fires, and somehow adding more to your plate than you’ve checked off.

Sound familiar?

The problem often isn’t that you’re not working hard enough. It’s that without task prioritization, everything feels urgent, and you end up reacting instead of executing. Without a clear system to organize tasks, distractions take over, and the work that truly moves the needle gets buried.

That’s why good task management means so much more than making lists. tIt helps you stay organized, prioritize your tasks effectively, and structure your day so you can actually complete tasks, not just plan them.

This guide will walk you through how to schedule tasks, set due dates, and use task management tools to focus on what really matters. Whether you're juggling a growing workload, leading a team, or just trying to save time and work smarter, these strategies will help you cut through the noise and get things done—without the stress.

Let’s get started 🚀

## Why Most People Struggle with Task Management
You’re not alone if you feel like there’s never enough time in the day. Task management sounds simple—write things down, get them done—but in reality, most people get stuck in a cycle of reacting instead of prioritizing.

We won’t even mention reaching for your phone, getting lost in a personal conversation, or sneaking in a quick break. Let’s focus on the business side of things, where even the best intentions get derailed.

Here’s why:

**- Too many tasks, not enough time** – Without task prioritization, everything feels urgent. You start the day with a plan, but by noon, your task list has doubled, and the most important tasks are still untouched.
**- Constant distractions** – Emails, Slack messages, unexpected meetings… Your day gets sliced into a dozen tiny pieces. Every interruption steals focus, making it harder to complete tasks efficiently.
**- No clear system** – Writing things down is one thing; knowing how to organize tasks is another. When your workflow is scattered across sticky notes, notebooks, and half-updated task management tools, you waste time figuring out what to do next instead of doing it.
**- Task lists that never shrink** – Ever feel like you’re just moving tasks around instead of finishing them? Without due dates, clear priorities, and a way to delegate tasks, some things linger on your list for days (or weeks).

The result? Missed deadlines, mounting stress, and the constant feeling that you’re always playing catch-up.

But here’s the good news: managing your workload doesn’t have to be chaotic. The key is to stop treating all tasks as equal and start prioritizing tasks based on impact, urgency, and effort.

Next, we’ll show you exactly how to take control of your tasks, without working longer hours or burning out.

## How to Organize and Prioritize Your Daily Tasks Effectively
Let’s talk about structuring your workload so you can actually get things done. Writing a task list is easy, but sticking to it and finishing the right tasks at the right time is the real challenge. Without a clear system, it’s too easy to waste time on low-priority work while the most important tasks stay unfinished.

Here’s how to organize tasks, prioritize your tasks, and ensure you can complete tasks efficiently every day.

### Step 1: Capture All Tasks in One Place
Scattered notes, mental reminders, and a dozen half-updated apps will only make you feel more disorganized. If your task management system is fragmented, you’ll waste time figuring out what needs to be done instead of actually doing it.

- Start by centralizing everything in one place. Whether it’s a kanban board or a structured notebook, the goal is to make sure no task is forgotten or misplaced.
- Use a digital tool: A task management software like WEDO keeps everything organized while linking tasks to meetings, deadlines, and team members. This ensures follow-ups don’t slip through the cracks.
- If you prefer a manual system, commit to a single planner or notebook. Update it daily and avoid using sticky notes or loose scraps of paper for critical tasks.
By keeping your task lists in one place, you eliminate the stress of searching for information and create a reliable system that makes staying organized easier.

### Step 2: Categorize Tasks by Priority and Effort
Some tasks move you toward your long-term goals, while others are just busywork. The problem? Without a clear way to prioritize your tasks, it’s easy to get caught up in low-value work while truly important tasks get delayed.
Break tasks into clear categories so you always know what deserves your attention first. A simple but effective method is to group tasks based on urgency and importance:

- **Must-do today:** These are the high-impact tasks that must be completed by the end of the day. Missing these can lead to missed deadlines or delays for your team.
- **Should-do soon:** Important but not immediately urgent. These should be scheduled strategically so they don’t become last-minute emergencies.
- **Nice-to-do:** These tasks are useful but not essential. If time allows, work on them, but they shouldn’t interfere with your top priorities.
- **Delegate or eliminate:** Some tasks don’t require your direct attention. If possible, assign them to the right team members or remove them from your list entirely.

### Step 3: Break Large Tasks into Actionable Steps
One of the biggest reasons people procrastinate is that their tasks feel overwhelming. A broad task like “Launch a marketing campaign” has too many moving parts, making it hard to know where to start. Instead of letting large projects sit unfinished, break them into clear, actionable steps.

For example, instead of writing “Prepare quarterly report,” break it down into:

- Gather data from sales and marketing teams
- Review key performance metrics
- Draft report outline
- Finalize and format report
- Send for approval

This makes task progress more visible and helps prevent last-minute scrambling. If a task still feels too big, keep breaking it down until each step feels doable within a set timeframe.

### Step 4: Schedule Tasks into Your Day
A never-ending task list without structure will set you up for failure. If you rely on an open-ended list, you’ll likely spend too much time deciding what to work on instead of making progress. Instead of tackling tasks at random, schedule tasks into specific time slots.

- **Use time-blocking**: Assign dedicated blocks of time for focused work, meetings, and admin tasks. This prevents your entire day from being consumed by emails and interruptions.
- **Set realistic due dates**: Overloading one day while leaving another nearly empty creates an unbalanced workload. Set due dates that allow for steady progress instead of last-minute rushes.
- **Build buffer time**: Unexpected work will come up. If you schedule every minute of your day, one unexpected email or urgent request can throw everything off track. Leave space for flexibility.

A task management system should help you schedule tasks in a way that makes execution easier, not just track what you need to do. WEDO, for example, lets you link tasks to meetings so that follow-ups are scheduled immediately, reducing the risk of delays.

By structuring your tasks with clear priorities, breaking work into actionable steps, and scheduling effectively, you create a system that saves time and helps you stay focused.

Next, let’s explore some of the most proven prioritization methods that can help you refine your system even further.

## Proven Methods for Task Prioritization
Even with a structured task management system, knowing what to work on first can still be a challenge. That’s where prioritization methods come in. Different techniques work for different people, and the best approach is often a combination of methods that fit your workflow.

Here’s a breakdown of some of the most effective task prioritization strategies and how they can help you stay organized, complete tasks efficiently, and save time.

### Eisenhower Matrix: Sorting Urgent vs. Important Tasks
**Best for:** Gaining clarity on what truly matters
**How it works:** This method divides tasks into four quadrants based on urgency and importance:

- **Urgent & Important** – Do these immediately. These are high-priority tasks with pressing deadlines.
- **Important but Not Urgent** – Schedule these. These contribute to long-term goals but don’t require immediate attention.
- **Urgent but Not Important** – Delegate these. If possible, assign them to the right team members so they don’t consume your time.
- **Neither Urgent nor Important** – Eliminate these. If a task isn’t adding value, remove it from your list.

**Why it works:** Instead of treating everything as urgent, the Eisenhower Matrix forces you to prioritize tasks based on impact, ensuring that truly important tasks don’t get pushed aside by minor urgencies.

### Eat the Frog: Tackling the Hardest Task First
**Best for:** Overcoming procrastination

**How it works:** The concept is simple: start your day with the hardest, most important task (your “frog”). Once that’s done, everything else feels easier.

**Why it works:** People tend to delay difficult or unpleasant tasks, which only makes them more stressful. By completing tasks that require the most effort early in the day, you avoid spending mental energy dreading them.

### Time Blocking: Scheduling Focus Work
**Best for:** Avoiding distractions and managing time effectively
**How it works:** Instead of jumping between tasks all day, schedule tasks into dedicated time blocks on your calendar. Each block is assigned a specific task, such as deep work, email responses, or meetings.
**Why it works:** This method reduces context switching, which drains focus. It also ensures that high-priority tasks get done before your day gets filled with unexpected distractions.

### ABCDE Method: Structuring Workload by Importance
**Best for:** Systematically ranking tasks
**How it works:** Assign each task a priority letter to determine its importance:
**- A –** Critical tasks that must be completed today
**- B –** Important but not urgent; should be done after A tasks
**- C –** Nice-to-do tasks with minimal consequences
**- D –** Delegate these tasks if possible
**- E –** Eliminate these tasks if they don’t add value

**Why it works:** This method forces you to organize tasks based on real impact, making it easier to focus on the right work instead of getting lost in less important details.

### Which Prioritization Method is Best?
There’s no single best approach. Many people combine techniques to create a system that works for them.

For example:
- Use the Eisenhower Matrix to categorize tasks.
- Apply Eat the Frog to knock out the hardest task first.
- Use Time Blocking to structure your day.
- Rank remaining tasks with the ABCDE Method.

The key is to choose a system that helps you complete tasks efficiently without overcomplicating your workflow.

![Table comparing four task prioritization methods, Eisenhower Matrix, Eat the Frog, Time Blocking, and ABCDE Method, based on what they’re best for and how each works.](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/blog_task_organisation_4_steps_en_d72172cbbf.png)

## Mistakes That Destroy Productivity
Even with the best task management system, bad habits can derail your progress. Many people set up a structured plan, only to find themselves falling into the same traps that keep them from getting things done.

Here are the most common mistakes that make task management tools ineffective and how to fix them.

### Overloading Your Task List
Writing down everything you need to do feels productive, but a never-ending task list can lead to decision paralysis. When your list is too long, you spend more time figuring out where to start than actually making progress.

**Fix it:**
- Keep your task lists realistic. Focus on your top three to five most important tasks per day.
- Use task prioritization techniques like the Eisenhower Matrix or ABCDE Method to ensure your list only includes meaningful work.
- Schedule secondary tasks for later in the week instead of cramming everything into one day.

### Not Accounting for Interruptions
No matter how well you schedule tasks, unexpected emails, urgent requests, and last-minute meetings will pop up. If your day is packed too tightly, a single disruption can throw everything off track.

**Fix it:**
- Leave buffer time in your schedule. Time-blocking is effective, but don’t schedule every minute of your day.
- Plan for deep work during hours when you’re least likely to be interrupted.
- If a new task comes up, decide immediately whether to delegate tasks, reschedule them, or eliminate them instead of reacting on the spot.
 
### Multitasking Instead of Focusing
Juggling multiple tasks might feel productive, but studies show that multitasking reduces efficiency and increases mistakes. When you split your focus, everything takes longer, and the quality of work suffers.

**Fix it:**
- Work on one task at a time. If you need variety, batch similar tasks together (like responding to emails all at once).
- Use kanban boards or a task management software to visually track progress so you stay focused on one item at a time.
- If you find yourself constantly switching between tasks, ask yourself if you’re working on important tasks or just reacting to whatever pops up.

### Letting Meetings Take Over
Unstructured meetings can easily eat into your important work time. Without a clear purpose, they become just another distraction.

**Fix it:**
- Only attend meetings where your input is necessary. Declining unnecessary meetings saves time management headaches.
- Use a task management tool like WEDO that integrates meeting takeaways into actionable tasks, so follow-ups don’t get lost.
- Set strict meeting agendas and time limits to keep discussions focused.

Fixing all these mistakes requires better structure, better tools, and better habits. The right task management softwarewill help you stay organized, track task progress, and ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

Next, let’s explore the best tools for managing daily tasks and how they compare.

## The Best Tools for Managing Daily Tasks
Now that we understand the human factors that make or break productivity—how we get distracted, procrastinate, or overload ourselves—let’s talk about the systems that help us stay on track.

As it’s probably clear by now, the right task management tool does more than just store your to-do list; it helps you stay organized, track task progress, and ensure important tasks get completed. Some tools focus on simple task lists, while others offer kanban boards, collaboration features, or automation for long-term goals.

Let’s take a look at how some of the most popular tools compare, so you can find one that fits your workflow and actually saves time instead of adding complexity.

![Comparison table of task management tools, Monday.com, Trello, Notion, ClickUp, OneNote, Asana, and WEDO, highlighting features like task lists, kanban view, task dependencies, subtasks, collaboration, meeting management, file sharing, and data hosting.](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/How_to_Choose_the_Right_Task_Management_Tool_for_Your_Team_en_34ea7daf49.png)


Among these options, WEDO stands out as the best choice for most teams because it connects tasks to meetings and follow-ups, ensuring that nothing slips through the cracks. Instead of managing projects in one tool and meeting notes in another, WEDO seamlessly links them together, turning discussions into action items and making sure every task gets completed.

Want a deeper comparison? Read our full breakdown of [WEDO vs. other task management tools](https://wedo.com/blog/6-asana-alternatives-for-efficient-team-collaboration).

## Take Control of Your Daily Tasks with the Right System
At the end of the day, no matter which tool you use, it should help you focus, stay organized, and make real progress without constantly feeling behind.

The key is keeping it simple and sustainable. Prioritize wisely, schedule realistically, and don’t overcomplicate things with unnecessary steps. The best system is the one you can actually stick to—one that helps you stay on top of important tasks without drowning in endless lists.

WEDO is designed to do just that. It keeps tasks, meetings, and follow-ups connected, so nothing slips through the cracks. No scattered to-dos, no forgotten action items, just a clear, structured way to get work done.

Ready to manage and complete your tasks without the chaos? [Try WEDO for free today](https://wedo.com/signup)! 


Learn how to manage and prioritize your daily tasks with proven strategies, smart workflows, and the right tools to stay organized and productive.

The image shows a team meeting during which tasks are assigned to the project's contributors and stakeholders.

Guide to Managing and Prioritizing Your Daily Tasksen.svg

Guide to Managing and Prioritizing Your Daily Tasks

Every team needs structure. Without it, tasks slip through the cracks, priorities get lost, and productivity takes a hit. A great task management tool solves this by keeping everyone aligned, making it easy to organize work, set deadlines, and track progress. 

But not every tool is a good fit for every company.
Choose the one that doesn’t align with your business, and instead of streamlining work, it becomes another obstacle; forcing your team to adapt to its rigid structure, adding unnecessary complexity, or bombarding everyone with notifications that create more noise than value.

But with so many options available, how do you pick one that actually makes work easier? The answer isn’t in feature lists or brand names. It’s in how well a tool fits your team’s workflow.

This guide walks you through the key factors to consider, common pitfalls to avoid, and a practical approach to testing tools before committing. By the end, you’ll have the confidence to choose a task management solution that works for your team, not against it.

## Start with Your Team’s Workflow, Not the Software’s Features
It’s easy to get caught up in flashy features when comparing task management tools. Gantt charts, kanban boards, automation—these all sound useful, but they won’t help if they don’t align with how your team actually works.

Instead of starting with a tool’s feature list, start with your team’s workflow. 

A task management tool should adapt to your processes, not force your team to change how they work just to fit its structure. Before jumping into comparisons, take a step back and assess your team’s needs:

**- Project complexity** – Do you need a simple to-do list for individual tasks, or a full-fledged project management system with dependencies and milestones?
Collaboration style – Does your team work in real time, asynchronously, or a mix of both?

**- Task visibility** – Do team members manage their own tasks independently, or is shared visibility across projects essential?
**- Integration needs** – Is it really essential for the tool to sync with your email, calendar, or document storage?
**- Scalability** – Will the tool still be useful as your team grows, or will you outgrow it quickly?
**- User preferences** – Does your team prefer structured task management (lists, priorities, deadlines) or a more flexible system (boards, labels, workflows)?
**- Compliance & security** – If your industry has strict data security or compliance requirements, does the tool meet those standards?

By answering these questions, you can filter out tools that don’t support your team’s workflow. This way, you’ll avoid getting lost in the feature lists and instead focus on choosing a tool that actually helps your team get work done.

## What a Task Management Tool Needs to Do Well
A good task management tool should feel like an extra team member, one that organizes work, keeps priorities clear, and makes collaboration seamless. A bad one? It’s just another thing to manage.

Too many teams fall into the trap of picking a tool that looks powerful on the surface but ends up slowing them down. Clunky dashboards, endless customization options, and a flood of notifications can turn a well-intentioned solution into a daily frustration.

So, what actually makes a task management tool useful?

![Visual comparison of what to look for versus what to avoid in a task management tool. Highlights must-have features like flexible task organization, clear priorities, easy collaboration, smooth onboarding, and reliable integrations. Contrasts with common pitfalls such as cluttered dashboards, overly complex setup, excessive notifications, and poor team fit. ](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/What_to_Look_for_and_Avoid_in_a_Task_Management_Tool_en_8428d1c8c3.png)

✔ **Simple, flexible task organization** – Whether your team prefers lists, kanban boards, or timelines, the tool should adapt to different workflows, not lock you into a rigid structure.

✔ **Clear deadlines and priorities** – Tasks shouldn’t pile up unnoticed. That means making it easy to set deadlines, assign priorities, and prevent tasks from piling up unnoticed. [Milestones](https://help.wedo.com/en/projects/gantt-chart-key-concepts) are especially useful here, helping teams track progress on larger goals by grouping related tasks. Some tools also support prioritization frameworks like the Eisenhower Matrix, which can help teams focus on what’s urgent versus what’s important.

✔ **Collaboration without extra effort** – Comments, mentions, and file sharing should streamline discussions, not create more side conversations outside the tool. The goal is to keep work and communication in one place.

✔ **Smooth onboarding** – A task management tool should simplify work, not create more of it. If it takes weeks to learn, adoption will be an uphill battle. A great tool is intuitive enough for teams to start using right away, with minimal setup or training. To help teams hit the ground running, WEDO offers set-up meetings for new customers, ensuring networks are properly configured from day one.

✔ **Reliable integrations** – A tool should work with your existing workflow, not against it. Seamless integration with email, calendars, and other apps reduces friction and keeps everything in sync. While WEDO is actively expanding its integration capabilities—including upcoming connectivity with Teams and bi-directional calendar syncing—it's important to evaluate what your team needs now and what’s on the horizon.

Where teams often go wrong:

🚫 **Overloaded dashboards** – Just because a dashboard looks impressive doesn’t mean it’s useful. Too much information at once can slow down decision-making.
🚫 **Too many customization options** – If a tool requires configuring everything from scratch, it can create more work than it saves. While flexibility is great, teams need structured simplicity to get started quickly.
🚫 **Alerts and notifications that create more noise than value** – Constant pings and reminders can be distracting. A great tool provides smart notifications, just enough to keep things moving, without overwhelming your team.

## Mistakes That Lead to the Wrong Choice
Even with the best intentions, teams sometimes end up choosing a task management tool that doesn’t actually work for them. Maybe it’s too complicated, too rigid, or just doesn’t get used at all. Avoiding these common pitfalls can save your team from frustration and from having to switch tools again in a few months.

**Ignoring user adoption** – If your team doesn’t use the tool, it doesn’t matter how many features it has. A flashy dashboard or an extensive settings menu won’t help if people avoid using the tool altogether. The best solution is one that fits into daily workflows with minimal resistance.

**Underestimating the learning curve** – A tool should simplify work, not require hours of training just to complete basic tasks. If the interface is overwhelming or requires constant troubleshooting, adoption will suffer.

**Choosing based on brand recognition** – Just because a tool is popular doesn’t mean it’s the right fit. Many teams default to well-known names without considering whether the tool actually matches their workflow. A good fit is more important than a big name.

**Overlooking long-term costs** – Some tools start off cheap (or even free) but require expensive add-ons, premium features, or per-user pricing that can quickly add up. A tool that looks affordable at first glance might become a financial burden as your team grows.

**Focusing on the tool, not the problem** – It’s easy to get caught up in feature comparisons and software demos, but the real question is: What problem are you trying to solve? If you don’t define your needs upfront, you’ll end up chasing features instead of solutions.

## How to Compare and Test Tools Effectively
A task management system might look great on paper, but will it work for your team or will it be a waste of money? Find out by going beyond marketing claims and putting tools through hands-on testing. 

Here’s how to make that process count:
**Book demos and ask the right questions** – Most vendors offer demos of their task management software tools, but don’t just sit through a sales pitch. Bring real scenarios from your team’s workflow and ask how the tool handles them. Can it quickly track task progress, manage assigned tasks, and support real-time collaboration?

**Get the right people involved** – A tool shouldn’t just be chosen by leadership or IT. Include team members who will use it daily, from project leads to individual contributors. They’ll have valuable insights on whether the tool actually simplifies tasks or just adds another layer of work.

**Test with a real project** – Set up a small but meaningful project during the trial. Create task lists, assign work, and track completion. Does the tool help the team stay organized, or do they find themselves defaulting to email, sticky notes, or spreadsheets instead?

**Compare usability across different roles** – A good task management app should work for different workflows. Does it make sense for both managers tracking progress and team members handling daily tasks? Can it adapt to both structured kanban boards and flexible lists?

**Assess long-term fit** – A tool that works well for a small business today should also scale as the team grows. Check if it allows custom workflows, integrates with project management software, and offers features your team needs to prioritise tasks.

**Evaluate customer support** – Even the best tools come with a learning curve. Does the vendor offer onboarding, training, or customer support that helps teams get up to speed quickly?

A good tool shouldn’t feel like something you have to fight with. Taking the time to test tools properly will help you avoid frustration (and costly mistakes) down the road.

## Comparing the Most Popular Task Management Tools
Now that you have a clear idea of what to look for in a task management system, let’s see how the most popular tools stack up. Some platforms shine when it comes to staying organized and tracking task progress, while others focus on real-time collaboration or offer deep customization for complex workflows.
Below, we compare some of the leading task management software tools, breaking down their strengths, potential drawbacks, and how they support effective task management.

![Comparison table of task management tools, Monday.com, Trello, Notion, ClickUp, OneNote, Asana, and WEDO, highlighting features like task lists, kanban view, task dependencies, subtasks, collaboration, meeting management, file sharing, and data hosting.](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/How_to_Choose_the_Right_Task_Management_Tool_for_Your_Team_en_34ea7daf49.png)

## Choosing with Confidence
While all the tools in this comparison help teams stay organized and manage assigned tasks, the right choice comes down to how your team actually works. Some platforms excel at simple task tracking, while others offer deep customization or structured project management, but the best task management system is the one that simplifies work instead of adding complexity.

Whether you're running a small business, managing a fast-growing team, or coordinating large-scale projects, picking a tool that fits your workflow will help your team complete tasks efficiently, not waste time wrestling with software.

Need a tool that connects tasks, meetings, and follow-ups without the chaos? [Try WEDO for free](https://wedo.com/signup) today and see how it makes teamwork effortless.




Discover how to choose the best task management tool for your team and compare top options to find the perfect fit for your workflow.

Team members use a task management tool during a meeting to work on a shared project.

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How to Choose the Right Task Management Tool for Your Team

In the fast-paced world of administrative management, executive assistants play a crucial role. The Swiss army knives of any organization juggle many tasks and deadlines while supervising those of others. Faced with these challenges, they often find themselves overwhelmed by routine, repetitive responsibilities. We immersed ourselves in the daily lives of 6 executive assistants who use the WEDO platform to understand the workings of their organization, the challenges they face, and the tools they have put in place to facilitate their management.

According to our study, the most time-consuming tasks for executive assistants revolve mainly around administrative functions. These activities, while necessary, tend to monopolize a significant proportion of their working time, preventing them from concentrating fully on more crucial aspects of their role, such as operational and strategic development.

Among the most time-consuming tasks in their job descriptions, the executive assistants surveyed identify the following:

**1. Meeting preparation:** preparing agendas and presentation documents, taking and sharing minutes, following up on decisions and tasks delegated at meetings,

**2. Diary management and meeting organization:** planning and coordination of appointments, team meetings, and conferences, taking care to avoid scheduling conflicts,
**3. Document preparation and management:** drafting, proofreading, and organizing important documents such as reports, presentations, correspondence and contracts,

**4. Project coordination:** managing and following up on specific projects, liaising between different departments, and meeting deadlines.

Internal and external communications, administrative support, and human resources management closely follow those.

## How to lighten the administrative load for an executive assistant?

When asked what tools were used to monitor collaboration before WEDO was integrated, the most common programs were Outlook, Word (for taking minutes), and Excel. However, these tools had significant limitations. Respondents reported difficulties related to the cross-functionality of information between different team members. For example, these tools were not conducive to **active, real-time collaboration when taking PVs**, making this task often cumbersome and time-consuming, and necessitating numerous round-trips. The systematic use of e-mail to distribute these documents wasted considerable time without guaranteeing effective communication.

Furthermore, the limited nature of these tools prevented efficient tracking of tasks and projects. Users faced significant challenges maintaining a clear, up-to-date overview of projects. In short, although these tools are widespread and familiar, their use in team collaboration and project management needs to be improved.

This situation underlines the importance of cross-functional tools and solutions to lighten the administrative workload. With the implementation of WEDO, the executive assistants surveyed were able to optimize their administrative processes.

### 1. Meeting preparation and management

![computerized agenda for real-time note-taking](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/reunion_ENEN_aad2ef7f0e.png)

One of the most time-consuming aspects of the job is the preparation of meetings. With WEDO, executive assistants benefit from automated management and considerable time savings in preparation and follow-up. The platform enables uniform management of minutes, clear distribution of post-meeting tasks, and automatic tracking of topics from one session to the next. Users report an average time saving of 55% for these tasks.

![save time spent on meetings](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/55_ENEN_83c8604c19.png)

WEDO's meeting module lets you integrate blocks of paragraphs, tasks, file attachments, personal notes, votes and signatures, among others.

![testimonial Regula Oberdorfer](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/Regula_Oberdorfer_ENEN_1a54d3c30f.png)

### 2. Project management and task tracking

![efficient task management](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/tasks_ENEN_be99588a59.png)

Project management and tracking represent another major challenge. WEDO simplifies this task by offering clear delegation possibilities, the creation of checklist templates to standardize processes, and real-time task tracking. This leads to better prioritization and more efficient day-to-day management.

![testimonials Aline Volery and Nicole Thalmann](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/testimonials_Aline_et_Nicole_ENEN_11a8dc6cff.png)

### Use case: facilitating HR processes and the transmission of specifications

When executive assistants are involved in HR processes, the integration of WEDO proves to be a major asset. The platform makes it possible to standardize on-boarding and off-boarding procedures by means of specific checklists. These checklists, drawn up for each stage of the process, automatically assign the relevant tasks to the team members concerned. This method ensures structured, efficient management of personnel transitions, eliminating the operational uncertainties often associated with the question "What steps should I take?".

By simplifying these processes, WEDO not only eases the workload for HR managers, but also contributes to a clear, documented handover of tasks and knowledge from one employee to the next.

![simplified hr processes](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/Modeles_checklists_ENEN_fdf58af70f.png)

One of the decisive advantages of WEDO, highlighted by our management assistants, is the ease with which recruitment interviews can be documented in real time. Each exchange can be recorded directly in a standardized (and customized if required) agenda, enabling these interactions to be saved methodically and instantaneously.

### 4. Transmission of information

WEDO lets you link documents to tasks or meetings, ensuring that all the necessary information is in the right place. Global search makes it easy to retrieve documents, and to find a specific file based on a keyword found in the PDF file.

In terms of communication, WEDO users particularly appreciate the immediate visibility of entries and the ability to restrict access to certain information.

![Alexandra Locher](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/Alexandra_locher_ENEN_e53527e95c.png)

**We asked our users to rate the platform on a scale of 1 to 10, to qualify the positive impact WEDO has on their daily tasks.**

![Best collaborative software for executive assistant productivity and organizations](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/preparation_reunion_note_ENEN_1_d92c7629a1.png)

![Alicia Aubert](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/Alicia_Aubert_ENEN_5d3644b8f7.png)

Executive assistants can greatly ease their workload by equipping themselves with a collaborative platform. Do you have any questions or doubts about WEDO's compatibility with your needs? We'll be happy to give you a short 30-minute demonstration.

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In the fast-paced world of administrative management, executive assistants play a crucial role. The Swiss army knives of any organization juggle many tasks and deadlines while supervising those of others

an executive assistant overwhelmed by work and demands

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Making daily life easier for executive assistants

Held once a month, quarter, or half-year, as required, these privileged meetings provide a confidential and open communication space, encouraging in-depth discussion of individual and collective objectives. They create a valuable opportunity to discuss each employee's specific challenges and needs, fostering better mutual understanding. Moreover, these meetings provide a framework for recognizing individual achievements and contributions, reinforcing a sense of accomplishment and belonging to the team. Thanks to these personalized exchanges, bilateral meetings contribute to more effective personnel management, more focused professional growth, and solid, fulfilling working relationships.

## Key topics for a bilateral meeting

During a bilateral meeting between a team leader and an employee, several key topics must be addressed to ensure effective communication and optimal management. Here are some of these topics:

### 1. Ongoing assessment
Discuss objectives for the current period and assess progress and results achieved. Identify successes and areas requiring further attention.

### 2. Professional Development
Explore opportunities for employee development, training, and professional growth. Identify skills to be strengthened and possible progression paths.

### 3. Feedback
Exchange constructive feedback on work performed, highlighting strengths and addressing areas for improvement. Encourage open dialogue to stimulate continuous learning.

### 4. Needs and Challenges
Allow employees to express their needs regarding resources, assistance, or support to accomplish their tasks. Discuss possible obstacles and find solutions together.

### 5. Work-Life Balance
Address workload-related issues, stress levels, and work-life balance. Identify measures to support employee well-being.

### 6. Projects and Initiatives
Discuss future projects, new initiatives, and potential employee contributions. Encourage active participation and creativity.

### 7. Management feedback
Offer employees the opportunity to share their feelings about management, work methods, and team communication. Foster an environment of trust and continuous improvement.

### 8. Focus on Vision
Ensure that the employee understands and adheres to the team or company's overall vision, values, and goals.

### 9. Resources and Support
Identify the resources required for the associate's success and ensure that he/she has the proper support to carry out his/her tasks.

### 10. Long-Term Planning
Examine longer-term perspectives and discuss the employee's career aspirations and how these align with team or organizational goals.

_"Enabling discussions in bilateral meetings, in a more intimate way and with a long-term vision, brings a notable benefit to the employee's career in the company. It makes them feel valued, heard and recognized above all. Setting clear, long-term objectives is a real motivator for them."_

**Marie Rudaz-Jaeggi**, *[AmbitionSuccess.ch](http://ambitionsuccess.ch/)* - MORGES

Team leaders and employees can establish fruitful collaboration, foster professional development, and maintain a positive working climate by addressing these topics regularly and in-depth at bilateral meetings.

## Use WEDO to keep track of your bilateral meetings!

![1_1 ENFR.png](https://wedo-assets.sos-ch-gva-2.exo.io/1_1_ENFR_78b8a89537.png)

With WEDO, you can prepare your agenda jointly with your manager or colleague. In this way, each participant can prepare the questions or topics to be addressed.

Generally speaking, the agenda items for a bilateral meeting are recurrent. WEDO enables you to set the topics so that they recur from one time to the next to ensure that discussions are followed up and that objectives evolve.

Once completed, the minutes are locked and remain available to both participants for consultation.

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During a bilateral meeting between a team leader and an employee, several key topics must be addressed to ensure effective communication and optimal management.

Notes

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