How to Make Org Chart in Google Docs

An organizational or org chart is a visual representation of a company’s internal structure. It outlines the hierarchical relationships between employees, departments, and leadership. Creating an org chart is useful for both small businesses and large enterprises to visualize reporting structures, ensure clear communication, and aid in strategic planning.

In this article, I’ll walk you through the steps to easily build an org chart directly within Google Docs. Google Docs provides a simple yet flexible way to create org charts without needing additional software or apps.

Why Create an Org Chart?

Before jumping into the how-to guide, let’s first go over some of the key reasons you may want to create an organizational chart for your business:

Visualize the company structure – An org chart allows you to map out departments, roles, and reporting relationships so that everyone can better understand how the organization functions. This clarity improves transparency and accountability.
Aid communication – By clearly outlining who reports to whom, org charts reduce confusion over the chain of command. Employees know exactly who to reach out to for concerns/questions.
Support growth planning – As your company expands, org charts help you strategically plan for adding roles and restructuring teams. You can identify needs and opportunities.

Onboard new hires – An up-to-date org chart helps orient new employees so they can grasp the business structure faster.

In summary, org charts bring order to organizational complexity. Both employees and leadership derive value from having this bird’s-eye view of the company layout.

Constructing the Org Chart in Google Docs

The process of actually building out the org chart within Google Docs is simple thanks to the software’s intuitive features. Follow these steps:

1. Open a Blank Google Doc

Log into your Google account and open up a new blank document. You’ll use this as your org chart template.

2. Add the Org Chart Fields

The first step is inserting the text fields that will hold the names and titles for each position. Do this by going to Insert > Building blocks > Org chart.

This will open up an org chart dialog box where you can specify the number of levels (i.e. layers of management) and number of roles per level.

For an average small business, you may want to do 3 levels with 3 roles per level. But modify as needed to match your organizational tiers.

3. Customize the Chart Layout

Once you insert the basic org chart, you can customize its layout right within the document.

Some formatting tips:

Resize boxes – Click and drag the edge of any box to make it wider or more compact
Add/delete boxes – Right-click on a box and use the menu to insert, delete or duplicate roles
Re-order boxes – Click and drag boxes to shift them left/right or into different levels

Add connector lines – Click and drag from the bottom of one box to another to show the reporting relationship

Spend some time tweaking the visual layout until you have a format you like.

4. Enter Data into the Chart

Now comes the fun part – actually filling in the org chart with the names and titles for each position within your company!

Double click into any text field box to type in:

The employee name
Their job title/role

Their department (optional)

Populate every box to cover all the roles within your organizational structure.

If a position is currently vacant, simply put “TBD” or “Open” as the name.

5. Style and Format the Chart

To polish the look of your org chart, use Google Docs formatting options:

Bold the title in each box
Align all text to the center

Change font style/size as desired
Add shape fill color to make certain boxes stand out
Add a chart border for a cleaner look

The goal is to make the chart as visually appealing as possible while emphasizing key information.

6. Add Supplementary Notes

If helpful, use normal text boxes around the embedded org chart to add any supplementary notes or explanations about specific roles, responsibilities, or team workflows.

This additional context helps employees better understand the reporting structures.

Getting the Most Value from Your Org Chart

Creating the org chart is just the first step. To actually derive benefits from it:

Keep it updated – Review the chart on a quarterly basis against current staffing and make any changes necessary. Maintain accuracy.

Share it company-wide – Make sure all employees have access to the latest version so everyone’s on the same page.

Use it strategically – Have leadership actively refer to the org chart for decision making on new hires and team planning.

Print it out – Consider printing a large poster-style version to display in your office. This gives employees an easy visual reference.

Export image versions – Download the org chart as a shareable image file type like JPEG or PNG rather than just a Google Doc. This allows you to embed it in communications and presentations.