@WonderLaura – Laura Rogers

Hey SharePoint power users! I’m excited to walk you through one of my new favorite features that can completely transform how your team interacts with your SharePoint sites – the Dashboard Web Part. If you’ve been looking for a way to create a centralized hub of information and quick access to the tools your team uses most, this is exactly what you need.

What Makes the Dashboard Web Part Special?

The SharePoint Dashboard Web Part is essentially your command center – think of it as mission control for your SharePoint site. It allows you to create a beautifully organized display of information, quick links, and interactive elements that your users actually want to engage with. It’s built on the same foundation as Viva Connections, so if you’re a Viva user, you’ve got that familiar functionality right in your SharePoint environment.

Getting Started: Setting Up Your First Dashboard

Step 1

Setting up your dashboard is refreshingly straightforward. Start by editing any SharePoint page where you want your dashboard to live, then insert the “Dashboard (Preview)” web part. Don’t worry when it appears empty initially – that’s exactly what we expect!

Step 2

Navigate to your site’s settings gear and select “Manage Dashboard.” When you click “Create,” SharePoint automatically generates a dedicated page called “Dashboard.aspx” specifically for your dashboard. This gives you the flexibility to either add the dashboard web part on existing pages or link directly to this dedicated dashboard page from your site’s navigation.

Step 3

Add each card that you would like to display, and edit the properties for each card, by clicking the pencil icon next to that card. The properties panel will open on the right, to configure it further.

Remember, you can only have one dashboard per site, but that single dashboard can be added to pages anywhere within that site. This consistency is actually a feature, not a limitation – it ensures your team always sees the same organized information regardless of where they access it from.

The Building Blocks: Understanding Dashboard Cards

Your dashboard’s power comes from its cards, and there’s an impressive variety to choose from. Let me break down the most impactful ones for SharePoint power users:

✅ Approvals and Assigned Tasks are fantastic for workflow management. The Approvals card connects directly to Teams and Power Automate approvals, while Assigned Tasks pulls from Planner. These cards help keep your team on top of their responsibilities without jumping between multiple applications.

🃏 Custom Cards are where creativity meets functionality. These are your Swiss Army knife – you can display custom text, images, and multiple hyperlinks with various formatting options. I love using these for creating visual navigation aids or highlighting important resources with custom branding.

📆 Events and News Cards keep your team informed. The Events card can pull from all sites or specific ones, with filtering by category. The News card works similarly to the news web part but integrates seamlessly into your dashboard layout.

🌐 Quick Links and Web Link Cards provide different approaches to navigation. Quick Links displays multiple links in a clean list format, while Web Link focuses on a single, prominently displayed hyperlink with rich formatting options.

📱 Power Apps card – this is brilliant for embedding business applications directly into your dashboard. Just grab an app URL for a specific app from web.powerapps.com, and your users can access custom applications without leaving SharePoint.

Smart Configuration Tips for Power Users

Here’s where we separate the casual users from the power users. Audience targeting is your secret weapon for creating personalized experiences. Instead of overwhelming everyone with every possible card, target specific cards to relevant groups. Your HR team doesn’t need to see the development team’s project links, and vice versa.

For Custom Cards, experiment with different templates. The “heading” template works great for single-action cards, while the “description” template gives you space for context. Remember that users can get confused if your entire card links to one place while individual buttons link elsewhere – keep your navigation logic clear.

When configuring Folder Cards, resist the urge to link to entire document libraries. Instead, point to specific folders that contain the documents your team accesses regularly. This creates a much more focused user experience.

Layout and Display Strategies

The dashboard’s responsive design automatically adjusts based on where you place it. In sidebar sections, cards stack vertically – perfect for narrow spaces. In main content areas, cards spread horizontally to fill available space.

Card sizing matters more than you might think. Large cards work well for primary actions or information-rich content, while medium cards are perfect for quick access links. Think about the visual hierarchy you’re creating – your most important cards should command attention through size and positioning.

Advanced Implementation Ideas

Here’s where we get creative. Instead of putting your dashboard directly on your homepage, consider adding a prominent link to the dedicated Dashboard.aspx page in your site navigation. This approach keeps your homepage clean while ensuring your dashboard gets the full-screen real estate it deserves.

For multi-team sites, use audience targeting strategically. Create cards for shared resources that everyone sees, then add role-specific cards that only appear for relevant team members based on their group membership. This creates a personalized experience.

Third-party cards open up even more possibilities. While many require separate licenses, they can integrate external tools directly into your SharePoint environment. Research what’s available for the services your organization already uses.

Best Practices for the Dashboard Web Part

Keep your dashboard current and relevant. Dead links and outdated information will quickly train your users to ignore your carefully crafted dashboard. Schedule regular reviews to ensure everything stays functional and valuable.

Don’t overcomplicate the initial setup. Start with essential cards that address your team’s most common tasks, then gradually add more sophisticated features as users become comfortable with the dashboard concept.

Consider creating documentation or quick training for your team. The dashboard is intuitive, but a five-minute walkthrough can dramatically increase adoption rates.

Making It Stick

The SharePoint Dashboard Web Part represents a significant opportunity to improve how your team works with SharePoint. By creating a centralized, personalized, and consistently accessible hub of information and tools, you’re not just organizing content – you’re changing how people interact with your digital workplace.

Remember, the goal isn’t to show off every possible card type, but to create a genuinely useful tool that saves your team time and reduces friction in their daily work. Start simple, gather feedback, and iterate based on actual usage patterns.

Your SharePoint site can be so much more than a document repository, and the Dashboard Web Part is your gateway to that transformation. Give it a try, and watch how quickly your team embraces this new way of working!

Here is my full demo of the dashboard web part:

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Want to dive deeper into SharePoint power user techniques? Check out my training resources at IW Mentor and join us for Power Hour sessions where we explore advanced SharePoint strategies together.