How do I create a person property in Notion?

Creating a person property in Notion requires just four straightforward steps that can transform how you track assignments and collaborate within your databases. This specialized property type links workspace members directly to database items, displaying their names and profile photos for clear visual identification of ownership and responsibility. The process takes less than a minute to complete and immediately enhances your team's ability to manage tasks, projects, and collaborative workflows. Understanding how to implement this feature effectively can significantly improve your workspace organization and accountability tracking.

To create a person property, start by opening your target database and locating the "+ Add a property" button at the top of your database view. You can also access this through the Properties menu by clicking the three-dot menu icon. Once the property dialog opens, enter a descriptive name like "Assignee" or "Owner" that clearly indicates the property's purpose. Then click the Type dropdown and select "Person" from the available property types before saving your changes.

After creation, you'll notice the new column displays user avatars and names, making ownership visually apparent across your database. When you click on any person property field, a searchable dropdown appears showing all available workspace members and guests. You can configure the property to allow single or multiple user assignments depending on your collaboration needs, which proves particularly valuable for team projects or shared responsibilities.

The practical benefits of person properties extend beyond simple assignment tracking. You can create filtered views showing only items assigned to specific team members, enabling personalized task dashboards. Additionally, assigned users receive notifications when tagged, improving communication flow and deadline awareness. The feature integrates seamlessly with other property types, allowing you to build comprehensive project management systems that combine assignees with dates, priorities, and status updates.

However, consider the limitations before implementing person properties extensively. Only existing workspace members or guests can be assigned—you cannot add external contacts or email addresses directly. Furthermore, assigning someone to a database item grants them access to that content, subject to your workspace permissions, which requires careful consideration for sensitive information. Despite these constraints, person properties remain one of Notion's most effective collaboration features, providing clear accountability and streamlined task management that scales with your team's growth and complexity.