How does a kanban board work?
Start with work your team actually intends to do. Write one card for each task, then place it in the column that matches its current state. When someone begins the task, move its card to In progress. When the agreed work is complete, move it to Done.
The board should answer a few everyday questions: What is waiting? What are we working on? What has finished? If you need a meeting just to understand those answers, make the cards or the column definitions clearer.
What belongs on a task card?
A useful card has a specific title and enough context for another person to take the next step. “Review homepage copy” is easier to act on than “Website”. Add an owner when someone is responsible for moving it forward. Use a due date when timing matters.
Keep each card small enough to move. “Launch a business” may be a project; “Write the first welcome email” is a task. If a card sits in one column for a long time, look for a smaller deliverable or a blocker to resolve.
Is a board the same as the kanban method?
A board is a tool. A fuller kanban practice also includes explicit workflow policies, limits on work in progress, and reviewing how work flows. A three-column board is a useful starting point, but adding a board alone does not establish all of those practices.
For a small team, begin by agreeing what “in progress” and “done” mean. Then pay attention to how many tasks are open at once. You can set a simple team agreement about how much to start before finishing something.
How can I start a board in Lanelet?
Create your team and first board during onboarding. Lanelet starts with To do, In progress, and Done. Add a task, assign it if needed, and move it with the drag handle or the Column field in the task editor.
- Name your team and board.
- Add a few specific tasks.
- Invite your teammates from Settings.
- Review the work in progress together.