15 Organizational Chart Symbols That You Need to Learn

In the business world, professionals need to be able to read and understand an organizational chart.  A business organizational chart shows lines of reporting relationships and defines a company's hierarchy. They typically include symbols that represent different positions in the organization. They also indicate whether each position reports directly or indirectly to another person. 

If you've never seen organizational charts before, these symbols may seem confusing at first glance. However, once you learn what they mean, you'll find that they're easy enough to interpret. Here are 15 organizational chart symbols that you need to learn to help you create an org chart.

With a Dot in the Center 

A circle with a dot in the center indicates an individual who reports directly to the CEO or board of directors, sometimes known as an "owner's view" diagram because it represents how ownership sees the company.

With Horizontal Lines

A circle with several horizontal lines through it indicates that this individual must be part of a committee or team before they can be considered for promotion elsewhere; these diagrams are also called "shields" or "layers of management." The number of lines indicates how many levels are needed before this person can be considered for promotion.

Plain Box

One box on the chart represents one manager who has direct reports; each box above represents one level of managers up on the org chart, and each box below represents another level of managers underneath that person. This particular symbol is referred to as a "mirror image."

Lines on Top

Lines on top of boxes represent reporting relationships, while lines under boxes indicate non-reporting relationships (or no relationship). Note: Both lines must be visible for there to be a reporting relationship.

Open Box

An open box with hatch marks inside indicates someone who has direct reports and multiple levels of management overhead (indicated by additional boxes above and below). If there's only one box at this level, they must be part of a committee or team before they can be considered for promotion. 

These diagrams are also called "snowflakes" or "depth-first trees." They show increasing levels of management depth, with the furthest level represented by an open box at the bottom.

Downward Slanting Arrows

A downward-slanting arrow points to the individual who should manage another person. The arrow indicates who should ultimately take over this person if their manager leaves. 

This symbol is also known as an "upward-reporting triangle". It shows that the person below (indicated by the arrow) could potentially assume responsibility for someone else.

A downward-slanting arrow without a box at the end points to someone who manages another person without direct reports themselves. These individuals are typically part of a team or committee before they can be considered for promotion elsewhere.

Two arrows pointing at each other with no boxes attached indicate individuals who report directly to each other, but no one else. This symbol is also known as an "arc" or "interlocking arcs." While these individuals are on equal footing, there are no additional reporting layers between them. 

Note: Additional lines coming out of the box indicate people who may oversee this relationship in the future (i.e., if their manager leaves).

An open box without hatch marks inside indicates someone who has direct reports and no managers above them. This is known as a "sparse tree diagram" or "a candidate to become a manager." Since this person has no one else above them, they must either be part of a committee or team before they can be promoted or continue working until their manager leaves.

A filled-in box with hatch marks inside without any arrows pointing to it. This means someone who has no direct reports and neither manages another individual nor is managed by anyone else above them (i.e., they report directly to the CEO). 

This symbol is also known as an "individual contributor" because it shows that the person below must either take responsibility for their work or become part of a team before they can be promoted elsewhere.

A filled-in box with hatch marks inside and arrow/s pointed towards it. This shows that this individual has direct reports (indicated by the open box), but no managers above them. They are essentially part of a team or committee before they can be considered for promotion elsewhere. This diagram is also known as a "dotted shield" because the solid interior lines show that this person does not manage anyone else in addition to themselves

If there's no direction indicated on water-like waves, this means either nobody above manages this individual or there is currently no one above managing them (i.e., they are on the same level on the chart). This symbol is also known as a "horizontal waterfall diagram."

A horizontal line across the chart represents individuals who don't report to anyone else and could potentially become managers in the future. This symbol is also known as an "upward-reporting arrow". It shows an upward potential for that person to one day manage others. This diagram type is sometimes referred to as a "fill in the blank" or "management development plan."

A dotted line with one or more boxes attached indicates that there's no reporting relationship. These symbols are also known as "dotted arrows" or "management development plans." These diagrams show individuals who need to fill in (i.e., develop) their skills before they can be considered for promotion elsewhere. 

Note: Multiple boxes indicate multiple levels of management needed to achieve this goal.

Line(s) pointing to an open box with hatch marks inside, without any direction indicated on waves. This means someone who has direct reports (indicated by the open box), but no managers above. This is known as a "filled-in arrow.” It shows upward movement potential for the person below.

Keeping up with several symbols can be difficult when making a chart. You can use online platforms to design it easier. You can look into Venngage, an online infographic and graphic design software. You can use Venngage diagrams and charts so you don’t have to start from scratch.

Run Down

A company organizational chart is handy to keep your workforce in check. The symbols discussed will be useful to create an easy-to-follow functional organizational structure. With Venngage, you can make your org charts look good as well. Venngage has a lot of templates that you can choose from. Just visit venngage.com to see them and start creating.