Can You Create an Org Chart in PowerPoint?

Org charts are a great way for business leaders to manage their companies and grow their operations. But what if you want to show off your company’s potential to investors? Can you create an org chart in PowerPoint?

You sure can! Here’s how.

What Is an Org Chart?

An organizational chart—also known as an org chart—is a diagram that shows how roles and responsibilities are structured within an organization. In the case of businesses, a quality org chart should make it easy to understand how employees and teams fit together within the company.

Most org charts will give each employee an icon with their name, photo, and job title. (Some org charts may also include contact information and a brief bio.) These icons are then linked together by lines, much like the names on a family tree.

At a glance, you should be able to see:

• Which employees are assigned to different teams
• How reporting structures flow
• Who is ultimately responsible for various tasks and duties

Not all org charts have the same design, though. There are three primary types of org charts:

• Hierarchical org charts show the hierarchy of a company. Typically, you’ll see the CEO at the top with the C-suite below them, then middle managers, and so on down to the lowest level in the structure.
• Flat org charts are a common choice for companies without any middle management, such as start-ups or small businesses that don’t have much of a vertical hierarchy.
• Matrix org charts work best for companies with employees who report to multiple managers across multiple teams. These org charts can help maintain an orderly view of even the most complicated reporting structure.

There are other forms of org charts, too, such as circle charts. For example, in a circle org chart, company hierarchy is visualized in concentric circles rather than top-to-bottom ranks. The innermost circle will show the company’s highest-level officer, such as the CEO, with each outer circle showing another level of hierarchy.

How to Create an Org Chart in PowerPoint

1. Choose an Org Chart Template

In PowerPoint, under the File tab, find and click New. Then, type “org chart” into the Search for online templates and themes box. This will bring up a series of org chart templates to pick from.

These org chart templates can be customized in many ways, so don’t worry if you don’t see something perfect right away. Look for a template that’s close enough to what you want to get started.

Once you know which org chart template you want, select it and click Create.

(If you copy and paste the org chart slide into another presentation, make sure to choose Use the Destination Theme under Paste Options to match the presentation’s format.)

2. Customize Your Org Chart

Next, you’ll need to use PowerPoint’s SmartArt tools to modify your org chart design. The two most useful tabs in the top ribbon are Design and Format.

By clicking on Design, you can:

• Change the theme of the org chart
• Change the layout
• Change the colors
• Add or remove icons
• Make the template appear 3D

By clicking Format, you can:

Reformat your text using WordArt Arrange and organize your icons Change the size and shape of icons Add colored outlines to your icons

3. Add Employee Descriptions

Once you’re happy with your org chart’s design, it’s time to start filling in the details. To add employees to your org chart, click on an icon and type in the information you want to include, such as the employee’s name and job title.

Of course, this process can be expedited by simply copying and pasting the relevant employee information from some other source.

And that’s it! With just a few easy steps, you should be well on your way to creating a stylish org chart in PowerPoint.

Build Your Public Org Chart Today

If you’re ready to give your company the benefits of a public org chart, you can get started right here on The Org. Signing up is free, and we’ll guide you through the process of creating your org chart from scratch. Once it’s done, your public org chart will help you:

• Manage your company more efficiently
• Hire better talent
• Streamline onboarding
• Boost productivity
• Attract more investors
• Improve company culture

…and more.