Do you work in London? If the answer is yes, you probably have a computer program known as Excel. There’s also a chance you might use it daily. It’s an important tool for the majority of workers in the city. It doesn’t matter what work you do. You could be a manager, supervisor, or planner. Sometimes small errors may go unnoticed.
Finance staff use it to count money and plan how much money the business can spend. Marketers use it to analyze client numbers and see if their promotions are working. Human resources uses Excel to manage employees, while project managers apply it in time management.
Despite the numerous benefits of this program, many people make mistakes when using it. The good news is that you can fix these mistakes by understanding how Excel works. Learn more from this guide.
Doing Manual Calculations
One big mistake users make with Excel is trying to do things the old way. Some still type out numbers while others copy and paste items over and over again. Others use their Windows calculator to do calculations and then type the results into the Excel sheet. This may defeat the purpose of using this program.
When you do a lot of manual work, you will waste time, and your work is prone to errors. On a large scale, errors can lead to wrong decisions, which can be costly for the company. Excel is equipped with special tools known as formulas. For example, SUM, IF, VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, or PivotTables are tools that you instruct, and they perform various tasks.
Poor Data Organisation
Another mistake users make when using Excel is not keeping their files tidy. When everything is in disarray, it’s hard to find what you need. If you create spreadsheets without rules, it may complicate your job. Unarranged data in a file may look good at a glance. However, there may be some hidden issues that make it difficult for Excel to understand. For example, failure to use clear titles or headings for each column. Also, if you mix different data in the same column, the software may not understand what you want.
Empty rows in the middle of your data table can also confuse Excel since it may see them as blank space. Eventually, you will get wrong reports and totals. Excel has vital tools such as Filters and PivotTables. A Filter will show you only certain rows. On the other hand, PivotTables will summarize your data in a new table. A clean and well-organized file is easier to share. Your co-workers or manager will not waste time trying to interpret the figures.
Creating Complicated Formulas
Some users may try to show off when using Excel. They may write hard-to-understand instructions or formulas, which may confuse the program. It is easier to break down a big problem into small parts than to use complex formulas that are hard to fix.
Excel can tell you when something is not right. It may use codes or error messages, which are like warning lights that things are wrong. These codes can seem intimidating for users who may delete or hide them. Hiding errors does not eliminate the problem and can lead to incorrect reporting.
There are easier ways to solve problems and work around with Excel. Use Pivot Tables and Power Query tools to sort data and organize lists for you. These tools can handle complex tasks and are less likely to complicate data.
Boosting Your Excel Skills Matters
Many professionals in London teach themselves how to use Excel. Even though they learn on the job, it only works for a short time and you may miss important skills of doing things with the program. Hence, you may need to consider taking professional Excel training courses in London to understand and reap the power of this Microsoft tool. Regardless of the type of job you do, improving your skills is a smart thing to do. You will learn the why, what, and how to use the tool effectively for your job.
Additionally, you will learn to use powerful tools and functions, including advanced formulas, PivotTables, Dashboards, and Power Query. You will also learn automation, which saves time and effort. Working on your Excel skills is more than avoiding errors. It makes your work life simple, and you do more in less time.