But why not show progress with status bars, like this: This technique was recently discussed in How-To Geek, and it's easy to do in Excel.

We explain how to make a Lollipop Chart in Excel. A Lollipop Chart resembles a Bar Chart but with a line on a point at the end.

Learn how to create a Timeline in Excel using a Column Chart, SmartArt, or an Excel Template. Timelines are essential for planning and communicating time-based data.

You can make a bar graph in Excel by first selecting the range you want to depict, and then using the dropdown menu to select the desired chart.