Before You Add Copilot, Strengthen These Excel Habits

Nobody here doubts that AI is bringin' it. We know that. There's new features, agents, projects, I mean pretty much daily there's something new on the leaderboard.  

And a question I hear when the Next Best Copilot Thang is launched is.....  

"Do I still need to learn Excel?"

(Have you not yet read my blogs and newsletters?? sigh) 

Yes. You do. Absolutely. 

AI helps you work faster, but it cannot replace understanding your data. That's for your big brain to tackle. 

The strongest Excel users aren't succeeding because they know how to populate a spreadsheet with formulas. Lots of us can do that. 

They're succeeding because they've built habits that make their spreadsheets more accurate, easier to maintain, and easier to trust. 

So in the spirit of learning more about the tool that is hands-down one of my favorites (Excel, holla), here are a few tips & tricks of the trade.... 

Healthy Excel habits you can implement NOW

1. Use Tables Instead of Ranges

I always suggest using tables instead of ranges. There are use cases for ranges, of course, but generally, tables are the better route. 

Tables automatically expand, keep formulas consistent, and make reporting easier. 

It's a simple, time saving change that will make you feel like an Excel Pro. Try it.  

2. Build for the Next Person

You aren't the only one looking at your banging spreadsheet. The idea is to have information ready to share, right? With colleagues, clients, your boss (yeah, they're looking). One way to success? Clear column names. Consistent formatting. Simple structures. 

Future-you will thank you. 

And so will everyone else who touches the file. 

3. Learn How Data Flows

Good data in, good data out. Which means, of course, that the opposite is also true. This is where understanding your data comes in. Knowing where your data comes from and how it connects is more valuable than memorizing complex formulas. 

AI can help analyze information, which is great. But it can't understand your business context for you. Know the difference. 

4. Verify Before You Trust

Remember like one second ago when I said good data in, good data out? Yeah, this is true. And so is the fact that you must vet your outcome. Whether the answer comes from a formula, PivotTable, Power Query, or Copilot, always verify the results. 

Fast is helpful. Accurate is essential. Both are possible, but you must be the last eyes on the page. 

That concludes today's Tech Help Sesh

Working on some of these basics are crucial. There's always more to learn, there's always a tip to be shared. Remember that the best Copilot users are usually strong Excel users first. 

Build the foundation before you layer in more tech and everything else gets easier. Copilot gets a much warmer reception with a spreadsheet that's got the basic functionality in place. Give them the warm handshake you know you can.