Ever feel like you’re only scratching the surface of what monday.com can do? One of Monday’s biggest super powers (and the one thing in my opinion that makes it so unique and powerful) is it’s ability to connect pretty much anything to anything. And the feature that makes all this possible is the Connect Boards Column. It’s a feature that can totally transform how you use monday.com, connecting and automating everything in ways you never thought possible.
Why the monday connect boards column is a Game Changer
Think of it this way: without the Connect Boards. Column, you’re seeing your data in two dimensions. But with it, you suddenly have a three-dimensional view. You gain access to so much more information and context, making your workflows smoother and more insightful.
The Monday Connect Boards Column lets you link items across different boards. This creates relationships between your data, so you can see how everything connects. It’s like building a web of information, where every piece is related and accessible. If you’re looking for the official documentation on how Connect Boards works on Monday.com, that’s a good resource to get started.
Setting Up Your First monday connect boards column
Ready to dive in? Here’s how to add a Connect Boards Column to your board:
- Hover over the title of the column to the left of where you want to add the Connect Boards Column.
- Click the three dots.
- Select “Add column to the right.”
- Choose “More columns.”
- Type in “connect” to find the Connect Boards Column.
- Select “Connect Boards” and “Add to board.”
Next, you’ll need to select the board you want to connect to. You can connect one Monday Connect Boards Column to multiple Boards, but let’s start with just one for simplicity.
It’s important to note that although I recorded the above video in Monday CRM, I used regular non-Core CRM boards that I created from scratch for this example, not the core CRM boards (like leads, deals, etc.). Why? Because those Core CRM Boards already have Connect Boards Columns set up, and they work a bit differently. Visually, they look quite different and they also come with limitations that regular Monday Connect Boards Columns don’t have. So, starting from scratch gives you the most flexibility.
One-Way vs. Two-Way Connections
Now, let’s talk about connection types. You have two options: One-way Connect Boards Columns and Two-way Connect Boards Columns.
- Two-Way: With a two-way connection, connected Items will be visible in both Boards. ie in our example we are connecting a Campaigns Board and a Clients Board. With a 2-way Connect Boards Column, we will be able to see the Connect Boards Column and any connected Clients in the Campaigns Board and we will also be able to see the Connect Boards Column and any connected Campaigns in the Clients Board.
- One-Way: With a one-way connection, the Connect Boards Column and any connected Items will only be visible in the Board you created the Connect Boards Column in. Eg if we added a 1-Way Connect Boards Column in the Campaigns Board, we will be able to see the Connect Boards Column and any connected Clients in the Campaigns Board but we WON’T be able to see the Connect Boards Column and any connected Campaigns in the Clients Board.
Important: Once you set up a monday connect boards column as one-way or two-way, you can’t change it later.
If you’re unsure, it’s best to start with a two-way connection. This gives you the most flexibility.
Mirror Columns: The Power of Reflected Data
What are mirror columns? They display information additional info about the Connected Item/s from the Column of your choosing right in your current board.
(The Connect Boards Column allows you to connect an Item/Items in one Board with the Item Name of an Item/Items in another Board. The Mirror Column allows you to display other Column values relevant to that Item/those Items).
It’s a good idea to always create a Mirror Column initially, even if you’re not sure if you’ll need it. You can always delete it later if you don’t find it useful.
And here’s a pro tip: rename the mirror column from the default “Mirror” to something more descriptive, like “Client Status.” This makes it much easier to understand what the column is showing you. The Monday.com documentation can help you learn more about setting these up.
NOTES
You can actually set up a Connect Boards Column that is connected to the very same Board you created it in. If you take this approach, you can actually connect Items in the same Board! (To keep the video above under 5 minutes, I didn’t include this in the video).
You cannot add a Mirror Column without a Connect Boards Column. If you try to add a Mirror Column without first adding a Connect Boards Column, the Mirror Column set up process will require you to select a Board and connect to it with a Connect Boards Column.
Manually Connecting Items
Okay, let’s get practical. Here’s how to manually connect items between boards:
- Click on the empty cell in the Connect Boards Column.
- Select the item you want to connect.
That’s it! You’ve created a connection between the Items on your boards.
You can also choose whether to allow connecting multiple Items to a single Monday Connect Boards Column. You’ll find this setting in the Column’s settings (it’s a checkbox). But keep this in mind: if you allow multiple connections, you won’t be able to use the “Group By” feature on that column.
Accessing and Updating Connected Information
Here’s where the magic really happens. Once you’ve connected your boards, you can access and update information from connected boards without ever leaving your current board.
Need to add an update, upload a file, or check a status? You can do it all directly from the board you’re on. This saves a ton of time and effort because you don’t have to switch between boards to find what you need. Plus, it gives you a centralized view of all related information.
Automations: Connecting More Than Just Data
The monday connect boards column also opens up a whole new world of Automation possibilities. You can set up Automations that trigger actions on connected boards based on changes in the current board.
For example, let’s say (like in our video) you have a Client Board and a Campaign Board. You could set up an Automation that says, “When the client status changes to ‘Stuck’ on the Client Board, change the Campaign Status to ‘Stuck’ on the Campaigns Board.”
Building Meaningful Relationships
Ultimately, the Monday Connect Boards Column helps you build meaningful relationships between your data. Instead of having isolated pieces of information, you can connect them to see the bigger picture.
Imagine you’re connecting clients to campaigns. You can easily see which clients are associated with which campaigns, and track the progress of each. You can even view summaries of connected items’ statuses. For example, you might see that “50% of connected items have a status of ‘Stuck,’ and 50% have a blank status.” You can then filter connected items based on their status to quickly identify any issues.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
The Connect Boards Column is a powerful tool that can transform the way you use Monday.com. By connecting your Boards and creating relationships between your data, you can gain valuable insights, streamline your workflows, and save time.
So, take some time to explore the Monday Connect Boards Column and experiment with its features. You might be surprised at what you discover. What ways do you use the Connect Boards Column?