Tip 1 — Have a system

Having a system is essential for effective spreadsheet management. Systems can be as basic or as detailed as a firm needs, so long as they are clear. Often the thing that makes or breaks a spreadsheet is when different people do things in their own way, rather than ‘having a system’.

One of the clearest examples of this can be the use of colours. Colours can be very useful for annotation, subject to accessibility considerations, but can become rapidly become confusing when there are too many options or these are not used consistently. It’s better to use only a few colours with broader meanings than lots of colours with specific meanings.

It also helps to be aware that certain colours come with underlying meanings – so red usually means there’s a problem, and green tends to be good – so it helps to choose colours that match what they represent more broadly.

It