An Org chart is a visual representation that illustrates the structure of an organization, outlining its hierarchy, relationships, and reporting lines. “Org” is short for “organization.”

As Google Docs doesn’t offer a dedicated tool for creating Org charts, we’ll utilize Sheets to create the chart and then import it into Docs. Below are step-by-step instructions for creating an organizational chart in Google Docs.

Creating an Org Chart: Steps to Follow within Google Sheets

Google Sheets includes a built-in chart tool with various chart options, including an organizational chart.

Follow the steps below to create an Org chart in Sheets and import it into Docs:

Data Creation (Sheet Preparation)

Click the following link to create a new Sheet: https://sheets.new/

Once the new sheet opens, click on the sheet name labeled “Untitled spreadsheet” and rename it to something like ‘Org Chart’.

List all employee names in column A in hierarchical order from top to bottom. Begin with the name of the highest-ranking employee at the top of the hierarchy, followed by the next person in the hierarchy in the row below, and so on.

In column B, next to each employee, enter the name of their reporting officer, ensuring that each employee has a corresponding reporting officer listed in column A.

Note: An employee should not report to multiple bosses. If you require an exception, I’ll explain how to handle it in the last part of this tutorial to prevent confusion.

Chart Creation

1. Using your mouse pointer, highlight the names in columns A and B of the table, i.e., the range A2:B14.
2. Click on the “Insert” menu and select “Chart.”
3. In the “Chart editor” panel, navigate to the “Setup” tab. From the drop-down menu, choose the chart type “Organizational chart.”
4. Sheets will swiftly insert the organizational chart.
5. Click on any blank area of the chart to select it. Then, drag the resize handles (the squares on the edge of the chart) to ensure all nodes (employee boxes) are visible.

Related: How to Create Site Organisation Chart in Google Sheets

Note: The fifth step is crucial. Otherwise, you may encounter issues with the inserted chart in Google Docs, such as cut-off or missing employee boxes.

Importing an Org Chart: Steps to Follow within Google Docs

We want to create an org chart in Google Docs. Right now, we have created the chart in Sheets. Let’s import it into Docs.

To do that, follow the steps below in Google Docs:

1. In Google Docs, click on Insert > Chart > From Sheets.
2. Select the file name that contains your Org chart and click “Insert.”
3. Ensure you select the Organization chart to insert the correct chart, as sometimes there may be multiple charts within a Sheet.
4. Check “Link to Spreadsheet” to ensure that changes in the Sheet chart are reflected in Docs.
5. Click “Import” to import the chart at the cursor point.
6. If the employee names are readable, you’re all set. If not, right-click on the chart and select “View more actions” > “Change page to landscape.”
7. Click on the chart and drag the resize handles to adjust the size.

Following these steps will allow you to create an Org Chart within a Google Docs document.

Updating Created Org Chart in Google Docs

When an employee leaves, positions change, or new employees join, you’ll often need to update your Org chart in Google Docs. It’s essential to know how to modify the Org chart within Google Docs.

Since the source of the Org chart is in Google Sheets and we’ve linked it to the Docs mirror (let’s call it a mirror as it’s a copy from Sheets), you need to update the chart within Sheets.

Here’s how:

Open the Sheet containing the Org chart. Alternatively, you can click on the chart within the Docs and find an option to open the linked Sheet. However, I won’t specify this because Google might change this in future updates. It’s better to open the file directly in Google Sheets.

Make the necessary changes to the data in columns A and B. The chart will refresh automatically within Sheets.

In Google Docs, click on the chart. You should see an option to update the chart. If not, reload the document and click on the chart again.

By following these steps, you can ensure your organizational chart in Google Docs stays up-to-date with any changes made in the linked Google Sheets spreadsheet.

Additional Tips

How to include employee designations in an Org Chart in Google Docs?

To include employee designations below their names in the Org chart, create a new line within cells to enter the designations. These changes should be made in Sheets.

How can one employee report to more than one boss?

Please refer to this tutorial: Duplicates in the First Column in Organizational Chart