How to make an org chart in PowerPoint

Create the chart with SmartArt

1. Open a slide and choose Insert → SmartArt.
2. Pick the Hierarchy category, then Organization Chart (or Name and Title Organization Chart, which gives each box a separate title line).
3. Click OK. A starter chart with placeholder boxes appears, with a Text pane on the left.

Add people and set reporting lines

1. In the Text pane, type one person per line. Press Enter for a new box at the same level.
2. Press Tab to demote a line (make it report to the line above) and Shift+Tab to promote it.
3. To add an assistant, select a box and choose SmartArt Design → Add Shape → Add Assistant.
4. Use SmartArt Design → Layout (with a manager selected) to switch a team between Standard, Both, Left Hanging and Right Hanging.

Style it

1. SmartArt Design → Change Colors and pick a palette that matches your template.
2. Pick a SmartArt Style; the flat styles read best when projected.
3. Keep text short: name on line one, title on line two.

Where PowerPoint falls short

• Text auto-shrinks as the chart grows, so large charts become unreadable.
• No import from a spreadsheet; every name is typed by hand.
• No dotted-line reporting in SmartArt; you have to draw connectors manually.

The faster way for bigger charts

1. Build or paste the chart in the HierarchyFlow org chart maker (CSV import works for a whole company).
2. Export → PNG (rendered at 2× for sharp slides) or SVG.
3. In PowerPoint, Insert → Pictures → This Device. In Microsoft 365, right-click an inserted SVG → Convert to Shape to edit individual boxes.

Open the org chart maker