If you’re leading a sales team and tired of chasing updates or sorting through messy spreadsheets, this is for you. Maybe you’re new to Scoreboardbuzz, or maybe you’ve had it for a while but haven’t really wrangled tasks into something that actually helps you sell more (not just look busy). Here’s a step-by-step guide—no fluff—on how to assign and monitor sales tasks for your team so things actually get done.
1. Get Your Basics Set Up
Before you start assigning anything, make sure the basics are in place:
- Everyone on your team has access. If someone’s not invited, they won’t see tasks. Double-check permissions.
- You’re clear on what counts as a “task.” In Scoreboardbuzz, tasks can be things like “Follow up with lead,” “Schedule demo,” or “Send contract.” Don’t let people use tasks as a dumping ground for vague reminders.
Pro tip: Don’t try to build your whole process at once. Start small—pick one chunk of your sales process (like follow-ups) and nail that first.
2. Creating Sales Tasks
Here’s how to actually create a task that your team can see and act on:
- Go to the Tasks tab. Click the “+ New Task” button.
- Fill out the details. At a minimum:
- Task name: Be specific. “Call John at Acme Corp” beats “Follow up.”
- Assign to: Choose the team member who owns it. Don’t assign to “everyone”—that just means no one does it.
- Due date: Realistic deadlines only. If everything’s “urgent,” nothing is.
- Related deal/contact: Link it if possible. That way, context isn’t lost.
- Notes: Only add what’s actually useful. Resist the urge to write a novel.
What works: Simple, clear tasks with an owner and a deadline. What doesn’t: Vague, team-assigned, or “someday/maybe” tasks.
3. Assigning Tasks to Team Members
Assigning tasks is where things often go off the rails. Here’s what to do (and what to avoid):
- Assign to one person. Shared responsibility is no responsibility. If it really needs two people, split it up.
- Make it visible. In Scoreboardbuzz, everyone can see open tasks, but filter views so reps only see what’s relevant to them.
- Double-check notifications. Make sure folks actually get pinged when you assign them something. If notifications aren’t set up, tasks disappear into the void.
Pro tip: Use recurring tasks for things like weekly pipeline reviews or monthly check-ins. But don’t go overboard—recurring tasks can become background noise if you’re not careful.
4. Monitoring Sales Tasks
Setting up tasks is useless if you never follow up. Here’s how to keep tabs without micromanaging:
4.1 Using the Dashboard
- Check the Tasks Overview. This gives you a quick look at what’s overdue, due soon, and completed.
- Sort by team member. You’ll spot who’s overloaded, or who’s letting things pile up.
- Drill down by deal or contact. See all tasks tied to a specific account.
4.2 Running Regular Reviews
- Do a weekly task review. Not a meeting—just a quick look through Scoreboardbuzz to see what’s slipping through the cracks.
- Use filters. Filter by overdue, by team member, or by task type. You’ll spot patterns fast.
- Don’t be afraid to delete or close old tasks. If something’s been overdue for weeks and isn’t moving, it’s probably not important. Clean house.
4.3 What Actually Works
- Short, frequent check-ins beat long, rare ones. Five minutes a day is better than an hour every two weeks.
- Transparency keeps people honest. If everyone can see who’s dropping the ball, things get done.
- Automate reminders, but don’t rely on them. People tune them out if you overdo it.
5. Updating and Closing Tasks
No one likes busywork, but some follow-through is non-negotiable.
- When a task is done, mark it complete. Don’t leave things hanging. Scoreboardbuzz makes this easy—just click the checkbox.
- Add a quick note if needed. If someone else needs to pick up where you left off, jot a sentence or two.
- Don’t use tasks as a chat log. Keep comments relevant. If you need a conversation, use Slack or email.
Pro tip: Celebrate closing big tasks in your next team meeting, even if it’s just a quick shout-out. It keeps morale up.
6. Using Reports (But Don’t Get Lost in Them)
Scoreboardbuzz can spit out all sorts of reports on who’s doing what, but don’t drown in the data. Here’s what’s actually worth looking at:
- Tasks completed per rep per week. Are some folks always behind? Or is someone burning out?
- Tasks by stage of the pipeline. Are important steps being skipped?
- Overdue tasks. A mountain of overdue items = a broken process.
Ignore vanity metrics like “total tasks created.” Focus on completed tasks tied to revenue.
7. Common Pitfalls (and How to Dodge Them)
- Too many tasks: If your list is endless, people stop caring. Prioritize ruthlessly.
- Vague ownership: Always have a single owner for every task.
- Task overload: If you assign everything to your best rep, they’ll burn out and nothing gets better for the team.
- No follow-through: If you never check in, tasks become a checklist for show, not for results.
8. Keeping It Simple and Iterating
Don’t try to build a perfect system out of the gate. Start with clear, actionable tasks tied to real deals. Review what’s working regularly, kill what isn’t, and tweak as you go. If Scoreboardbuzz starts feeling like a second job, you’re probably overcomplicating things. Keep it simple, focus on what actually moves deals forward, and adjust as you learn what works for your team.
That’s really it. Assign what matters, track what counts, and don’t let the process get in the way of real selling.