Create Organizational Charts in PowerPoint

Learn how to create an org chart to showcase your company’s structure in Microsoft PowerPoint. This tutorial will take you through the process of using SmartArt as well as a PowerPoint org template.

Understanding Organizational Charts

An organizational chart, or org chart, helps illustrate how your company is structured. It visually represents “who reports to whom,” giving both employees and outsiders insight into the decision-making process and company hierarchy.

Creating a well-structured organization chart is essential for ensuring that the right people are in supervisory roles and that teams are configured effectively to accomplish work. By documenting your organizational structure using PowerPoint, employees can easily see how your company is organized and know whom to contact for specific information.

What Is an Organizational Chart?

Organizational design is an art that involves determining how best to arrange your company to maximize productivity. One key aspect of this is understanding the reporting structure, which can be effectively represented through an organizational chart (org chart). An org chart typically displays a hierarchy, with the highest-ranking manager at the top, followed by various levels of management and staff.

Org charts are valuable tools for anyone within a company. Employees often reference them to find the right person to approach for various issues. So let’s dive into how you can create your own org chart in PowerPoint.

Creating Org Charts with PowerPoint Templates (Video)

Are you ready to deepen your understanding of creating organizational charts in PowerPoint? Check out this quick video that demonstrates how to use PowerPoint’s capabilities to enhance your presentations with org charts.

For a detailed walkthrough, continue reading the complete tutorial below.

Using SmartArt to Create Org Charts in PowerPoint

SmartArt is one of the standout features in PowerPoint, allowing you to create interactive charts without needing advanced graphic design skills. To start building your org chart, navigate to the Insert tab in PowerPoint’s ribbon and select the SmartArt option.

In the SmartArt window, choose the Hierarchy category to find a variety of chart types suitable for org charts. For this example, we will use the basic organization chart.

Once you click OK, a new chart will appear on your slide, accompanied by a text box on the left side in outline form. You can simply type in these boxes to populate the SmartArt chart with your organizational structure.

Each bullet point corresponds to a box on the chart, while second-level bullet points will appear beneath the higher-level items. It’s helpful to include not just employee names but also their job titles for clarity.

PowerPoint’s flexibility allows you to create stunning visuals easily. If you need additional design inspiration, check out our collection of templates for infographics in Excel.

Creating an Organizational Chart Using PowerPoint Templates

To simplify your workflow, consider using pre-designed PowerPoint org chart templates. Services like Envato Elements provide access to a wide range of templates, saving you the time and effort of designing from scratch.

With a subscription to Envato Elements, you can access over a million assets, including PowerPoint org chart templates. This approach allows you to focus on adding your specific details rather than creating a design from the ground up.

When using a template, simply choose a slide that matches your organizational structure and fill in your team’s information.

Steps to Create Your Org Chart

1. Select the Slide to Use: Browse through the available styles in the Organizational & Data Chart template. Choose one that closely resembles your company’s structure.

2. Build the Structure: Customize the slide to reflect your company’s unique organization. If needed, duplicate boxes to add more employees.

3. Add Team Information: Include job titles and photos to enhance the clarity of the org chart. This helps new employees familiarize themselves with key personnel.

4. Publish and Share: Once your org chart is complete, share it in a format accessible to everyone. Saving it as a PDF ensures compatibility across different devices.

5. Maintain the Chart: Assign someone to keep the org chart updated as your team evolves.

Tips for Effective Organizational Charts

Creating a PowerPoint org chart can streamline communication and clarify roles within your organization. Below are five tips to enhance your org charts:

1. Show Multiple Layers

Include multiple layers in your org chart to give a comprehensive view of your organization, from leadership down to individual contributors.

2. Create Functional Org Charts

Consider illustrating functional relationships in addition to reporting lines, which can help convey broader departmental functions.

3. Add Images of Staff

Including staff photos helps personalize the org chart, facilitating interaction among employees, especially in remote settings.

4. Utilize Dotted Lines

Use dotted lines to indicate indirect reporting relationships, ensuring clarity in complex organizational structures.

5. Assign a Maintainer

Designate a team member to keep the org chart current, reflecting any changes in personnel or structure.

Conclusion

PowerPoint organizational charts are vital for conveying the structure of a company. As you create your own org chart, consider utilizing templates for a more efficient design process. Whether you opt for a comprehensive subscription service like Envato Elements or individual templates from GraphicRiver, a well-designed org chart can significantly enhance communication within your organization.

How do you approach creating org charts? Do you prefer using PowerPoint or another tool? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Note: This post was originally published in July of 2018. It has been updated with assistance from Andrew Childress.