Creating an organization chart with PowerPoint - a quick guide

If you want to create an organizational chart for your company, association or other institution, you can use the numerous format templates at PowerPoint. In just three steps you have created a professional organization chart with MS Powerpoint.

Step 1: Find the template in PowerPoint

In Microsoft Office Powerpoint 2007 on Windows 7, you create an organization chart as follows:

• Open a new project in Microsoft Office Powerpoint and select an empty slide.
• There is a "SmartArt" button in the "Insert" menu. You will find many different templates here.
• Open SmartArt and select the "Hierarchy" list. Now you are shown a few options for a graphical representation: The first symbol is called the organization chart - you can of course also choose one of the other forms of representation.

Step 2: Adjust the organization chart

• First, you will receive an initial graphic that you have to label. A dialog window opens automatically.
• In the menu on the left there is the button "Add shape" - here you can create further elements and levels. This is particularly helpful for a detailed organization chart with many widely ramified levels.
• If you want to add further elements later, you can do this by clicking on the organization chart under the menu item "Draft".

Step 3: How to format the organization chart

With just a few clicks, you can give your organization chart the finishing touch:

• To do this, click on the organization chart in the top main menu on the far right on "Design" below the name "SmartArt-Tools" (see picture).
• There you can select various designs, such as 3D design, block template or tile format, in the "SmartArt style sheets" area. So you can give the organization chart a modern flair.
• In addition to the design, you can also change the color of the graphic. There are also color samples, right next to the format templates.
• The colors shown depend on the selected draft type of your PowerPoint presentation. For other colors, you can either select a different color layout in the "Design" main menu under "Colors" or manually change the color of an element.
• All you have to do is right-click on the appropriate form and click on "Format form". In this window you can format any form of the organization chart as you wish. In this way you can create an organizational chart according to your wishes.

We have put together the 10 best tips for a successful PowerPoint presentation here.