An organization’s culture is made up of its values, beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes. While culture can seem intangible, org charts provide a useful tool for making a company’s culture tangible and visible. Org charts visually display roles, hierarchies, and reporting structures. Examining and updating org charts can help highlight and shape an organization’s culture.

Org Charts Show Communication Flows

Org charts illustrate reporting relationships and chains of command. The org chart layout demonstrates who communicates with whom and the flow of information up, down, and across the organizational hierarchy. For example, a narrow org chart with direct reporting between positions indicates centralized decision-making and a more bureaucratic culture. In contrast, a flatter org chart with dotted lines shows cross-departmental collaboration and reflects a more flexible culture. Experiment with different organizational chart templates to find one that works best for your needs.

Org Charts Reveal Power Structures

The distribution of power and influence in a company is laid bare in an org chart. For instance, an org chart with many layers depicts a more traditional autocratic culture with power concentrated at the top. On the other hand, a flat org chart signifies shared leadership and employee empowerment within a more participative democratic culture. The number of senior management roles and the ratio of managers to individual contributors are also indications of cultural norms.

How Org Charts Shape and Reflect Company Culture

Org charts do more than show who reports to whom — they reflect a company’s culture and can even shape it. Updating org charts to include new roles, teams, or divisions highlights areas of growth and shows a culture that values progress. For example, adding an innovation department signals a focus on creativity and future readiness. Expanding the customer support team shows a commitment to service and strong relationships. Intentional updates make cultural priorities clear.

Org Charts Show Diversity and Inclusion

Org charts can also highlight diversity. They reveal whether women and minorities hold leadership positions and whether there are fair opportunities for growth. A chart that reflects diversity sends a strong message about inclusivity. It shows the company values equality and fosters a culture of belonging. Promoting diversity within the org chart encourages it throughout the organization.

Org Charts Reinforce Cultural Values

Org charts can actively promote cultural change. For example, adding a Chief Innovation Officer shows a focus on innovation. Creating a Customer Advisory Board reflects a customer-first culture. Even small changes, like using “team” instead of “department” or adding color coding, can influence how employees view collaboration and unity.

Keeping org charts updated helps companies clearly express values, support growth, and align culture with strategy. They are a simple but powerful tool for shaping the future.

Conclusion

Org charts are more than organizational maps — they are powerful tools that reflect and shape a company’s culture. By updating them thoughtfully, leaders can highlight growth areas, promote diversity, and reinforce key values. Small changes in structure, language, or design can influence teamwork, innovation, and inclusion. Keeping org charts current not only clarifies roles but also supports cultural alignment with strategic goals. In this way, org charts become living tools that guide both the company’s growth and the strengthening of its culture.