Add milestone to a project

Milestones help you break down your project into manageable phases and track progress toward completion. They represent key deliverables, deadlines, or checkpoints in your project timeline.

You can add milestones at any time during your project. Start with the most important ones and add more as your project evolves.

Adding a milestone#

From project Overview tab#

1. In the Milestones section, click Add milestone
2. Enter a name for your milestone
3. Optionally, set a target date
4. Click Add milestone to create the milestone

From Tasks tab#

1. Click New milestone at the top of the Tasks tab
2. Enter a name for your milestone
3. Optionally, set a due date
4. Click Create milestone to create the milestone

Managing milestones#

Once created, open your milestone. On the milestone page you can:

• Add tasks to break down the work needed to complete the milestone
• Add a description to provide additional context and details
• Start a discussion via comments to collaborate with your team
• Adjust due date if timelines change
• Mark as complete when the milestone is achieved

If the milestone still has open tasks, Operately asks what to do before completing it.

1. Open the milestone and choose to complete it.
2. Choose Move tasks to No milestone or Change tasks to a closed status.
3. If you change status, pick a Task status.
4. Click Complete milestone. Click Keep milestone active to cancel.

The milestone page also has a Docs & Files tab for the project’s documents and files.

This approach lets you start with high-level planning and add detail as needed. You can always refine your milestones as the project progresses.

What makes a good milestone#

Effective milestones represent a specific, tangible outcome or achievement.

We recommend keeping the scope of a milestone limited to up to a week or two of work. This is to ensure milestones are used as meaningful progress markers rather than vague, long-term goals.