How to Create an Organizational Chart

Making an org chart doesn't have to be hard. Here are the basic steps to creating an organizational chart:

Start with an organizational chart template. You will start with a basic org chart template you can easily modify and add to.
Select any box and type to add a name.
Click any yellow arrow around a shape to add another shape in the direction of the arrow.
The new shape will be automatically connected to the other shapes in your chart.
Alternatively, use the controls to the left of your drawing area to add shapes, photos, and lines.
Once your organizational chart is ready you can insert into PowerPoint^®, Word^®, Excel^® or any Google Workspace app easily. SmartDraw also works with Atlassian's Confluence or Microsoft Teams.

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Getting Started

Before SmartDraw can automatically format your organizational chart, it needs to know that you want to make this kind of diagram, so the first step is to select Org Chart from the list of templates on the home panel.

Drawing Your Chart

The template opens with a starter chart already in place. A panel on the left, called the SmartPanel, has all the commands you need to build your chart.

You can also create your organizational chart by importing data, learn how.

Add Names

To add a name to a shape, just click in the box and type.

You can use the [TAB] or arrow keys to navigate to the other boxes and fill in the names and titles of the people reporting directly to the CEO.

Add Peers and Direct Reports

To add a peer at a specific level, select an existing employee at that level and hit the Add Right button in the SmartPanel or press [CTRL] and the right arrow.

Add a direct report under any selected level by hitting Add Below or press [CTRL] and the down arrow. You can easily add more reports under a specific manager by hitting the [ENTER] key as long as one report is already selected. You can continue building the chart, adding reports where necessary and SmartDraw will format the chart automatically for you.

Note that there is no need to draw lines. SmartDraw draws them for you as you add positions. The boxes are all perfectly sized, spaced and aligned. Your chart is presentation-quality from the beginning. Moving and inserting positions is automatic, too.

Inserting a Position

To insert a position, simply use the command to add one. The remaining boxes will move to accommodate it and SmartDraw will reformat the entire chart for you, automatically.

Removing a Position

To delete a position or employee, select it and hit the delete key. The remaining boxes will re-arrange themselves automatically. For example, if the VP of Sales box is deleted the chart will change automatically to this:

Rearranging Your Chart

If you want to make changes to any of the positions within the chart, it's as easy as dragging the box to where you want it to go: up a level, down a level or side to side. Simply select the box you want to move and without letting go of the mouse move it around on the page. As you move it, you'll see SmartDraw's automatic connectors trying to grab the shape. A dotted outline of the shape and the connector lines will appear showing you where it would attach. To finish moving the shape, simply let go of the mouse and it will drop into position. SmartDraw will keep your chart neat and orderly.

Adding an Assistant

Some people like to format an assistant to a position in a special way, adding the assistant box below the position but above the other positions that report to it.

SmartDraw has a special command to create an assistant. Select the position that manages the assistant and click the "Add Assistant" Button.

Adding a Co-Manager

Sometimes two (or more) people manage a group. The group has co-managers. SmartDraw has a special command to add a co-manager to a manager position, and formats it like this.

Making All the Boxes the Same Size

Organization charts look better when all boxes are the same size. SmartDraw has a special button for this too.

Fitting an Organization Chart onto One Page

SmartDraw automatically formats an organization chart to use space on the page as efficiently as possible, by switching third level positions to a columnar format like this:

Instead of using the horizontal format for all levels like this:

You can change these settings using the Branch Style command, if you choose.

Changing Orientation

Sometimes it makes more sense to view an organizational chart from side to side instead of top to bottom. SmartDraw allows you to instantly change the orientation of your chart with a simple command. With ordinary drawing software, you'd be forced to rebuild the entire chart. To change the direction, click on the Chart Direction drop down in the SmartPanel and select your chart's orientation.

Add Photos

Communicate more than organizational structure by adding photos for each position. Put a face to that name. With SmartDraw you can do it with just a few clicks. First, select the position you want to add a photo to and then click Add Picture in the SmartPanel.

You'll be able to browse to a photo on your computer and insert it into your chart.

Changing the Appearance of Your Organizational Chart

Now that you've built the framework of your chart, here are some tips for dressing it up.

SmartDraw automatically applies professional design themes for you, but also gives you complete control to customize your org chart in any way you want.

Change the entire look of your chart by applying a new design theme with just one click.

Or change the look of individual shapes instantly by selecting a new Quick Style. Choose from more than 40 pre-set designs.

Add Your Organizational Chart to PowerPoint^®, Word^®, and Other Office Products

Share your org chart in a variety of common graphics formats such as a PDF or PNG. Export it to any Office^® application in one click.

Choose "Export" under the "Home" tab and click on "Export to Office."

You can also share your chart with anyone with a simple link. They won't even need SmartDraw or to create an account to see your diagram.

Learn more about creating organizational charts for MS Office products: