26 Excel Productivity Tips For 2026

26 Excel Productivity Tips For 2026

Is this year the year you'll finally master Excel?  OK, so perhaps Excel is impossible to master - but we can always get better.

Watch the Video HERE

FREE DOWNLOAD: EXCEL TOOLKIT (1 Page PDF) 

Yes, Excel tends to be a struggle - but I kind of love it!

In this video, I reveal my top 26 Excel productivity tips and tricks.

From simple shortcuts you can use next time you open your laptop, to a complete conceptual framework for tackling data-related tasks,there is something for everybody from Excel beginner to Excel pro.

But, what tips, tricks and other Excel hacks have I missed?  Leave your favourite in the comments below! 

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00:00 EXCEL DISPLAY TIPS

1) How to pin Excel to your toolbar

2) How to view Excel files separately on toolbar

3) How to switch between files using the keyboard only

4) How to enable editing with keyboard only

5) How to view the same file in two windows at the same time 

01:06 EXCEL FORMATTING TIPS

6) How to easily manage and format data with Excel tables

7) How to create a one-colour colour scheme

8) Create your own colour scheme and store it on a worksheet 

01:57 EXCEL DASHBOARD TIPS

9) The best way to create an Excel dashboard is with pivot tables / charts

10) If pivot tables too painful, data analysis formulae (eg. DSUM) a good alternative! 

02:45 ABOUT CHRIS 

03:14 DATA VALIDATION TIPS

11) How to get started with data validation (secret dropdown tip!)

12) Get to know all the data validation options eg. date

13) Checkboxes are a great option for yes / no input 

04:10 EXCEL FORMULA TIPS

14) Use the F2 to master formula-building with the keyboard only 

04:47 DYNAMIC ARRAYS!

15) Utilise the =UNIQUE() formula

16) Use the hashtag # in formula building 

05:36 DATA COLLECTION TIPS

17) Use Forms for simple data collection and collation 

06:26 FEWER FILES, PLEASE!

18) Use fewer files and fewer worksheets - consolidate! 

07:24 EXCEL AI TIPS

19) Use an AI tool - Copilot is good but does cost

20) Understand what AI is good at, and what it isn't good at! 

08:35 EXCEL AUTOMATION TIPS

21) Start automating something in Excel!

22) Understand multiple Excel automation tools are available - which would help you most?

23) Power Query on desktop Excel is a good place to start Excel automation 

09:39 EXCEL TOOLKIT

24) Stop obsessing about Excel formulae! You're missing out on so much in Excel ...

25) Remember - you're only ever doing one of four things in Excel!

26) A conceptual framework is everything: get an Excel toolkit - our one page free PDF is available for download

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