10 TIPS IN IMPROVING YOUR FLOW CHART EXAMPLE AT WORK

Creating a flow chart example is not as easy as it seems. It requires both
creativity and knowledge about the different shapes, connectors, titles, lists of
actions, etc. However, once created successfully, this will surely impact your
work positively. This can be used by teams working on projects with their
significant others or even if you are trying to give instructions to somebody else
who will handle things for you.
Flow chart templates are mostly used in IT-related jobs mainly because the field
deals with lots of processes that need to be organized into boxes and arrows one
after another just like what is being done in programming languages. Compared
to other kinds of charts being utilized today, this has stood the test of time due to
its simplicity yet effectiveness in showing how different people are related to the
task and what their contributions are.

1. Use Arrows Properly On Your Flow Diagram
Arrows are important when creating a flowchart because they indicate the
direction of the process. It is best to use them sparingly and only when needed to
avoid confusion. Stick to one direction whenever possible and use common
symbols for arrows such as curved lines for movement from one activity to
another and right angles for branching actions.

proposalprocessflowchart-venngage

2. Indicate The Starting Point And The End In Your Process
Map
Every flowchart must have a starting point and an endpoint, with the activities in
between represented by connecting arrows. Place a small rectangle at the top
left corner of your chart to represent the starting point while a diamond shape
should be used at the bottom right corner to represent the end.

3. Use Different Shapes For Different Purposes On Your
Process Flow Diagram

To make your chart more significant and easier to understand, it is best to use
different shapes and symbols for the different activities involved in whatever
process you are trying to illustrate. While rectangles indicate a list of actions,
diamonds mean decision making while parallelograms stand for input/output or
data transfer or reaction/response. You can also add text within these shapes if
they serve as containers such as in processing steps that contain multiple
related actions such as in programming languages when delimited by curly
brackets {}.

4. Keep Your Flowchart Simple And Easy To Read
The most common mistake made when creating a flow chart is using too many
visuals which only end up confusing people viewing it. Remember that the whole
point of using this type of chart is to make things easy to understand and follow.
So keep your shapes and connectors simple, and use explanatory text if needed.
Before making your flow chart example, you can organize your data using a
mindmap on Venngage.

5. Label All The Connectors And Shapes
It is always best to label all the connectors and shapes in your flowchart so that
there is no confusion about what they represent. Place the labels above or beside
the corresponding item and use a common font such as Arial or Calibri to make
them easier to read.

6. Use Titles To Clarify The Purpose Of The Chart
Just like in any other type of chart, it is important to place a title at the top of your
flowchart that will clearly state its purpose. This will help people quickly
understand what it is that they are looking at.

7. Use Lists To Group Related Actions

When there are a lot of related actions involved in a process, it is best to group
them using lists. This makes the flowchart more organized and easier to follow.
You can use either a horizontal list or a vertical list, whichever suits the layout of
your chart better.

8. Use Connectors On Your Flow Chart Template Effectively
Connectors are used to indicate the flow of information or the sequence of
activities in a process. When using them, make sure that they are attached to the
correct shapes and that they always go in the same direction. Don’t forget to
label them properly so that there is no confusion later on.

9. Use Flowchart Symbols To Represent Tasks
One of the advantages of using a flowchart is that it allows you to use symbols
instead of text to represent tasks. This makes the chart more concise and easier
to understand. There are many different symbols that you can use, so choose
those that will best represent the actions involved in your process.

simpleflowchart-venngage

10. Test The Flowchart For Accuracy And Clarity
Once you have finished creating your flowchart, it is important to test it for
accuracy and clarity. Try following the arrows and see if everything makes sense.
If not, then make the necessary changes until you are satisfied that it is accurate
and easy to follow.

Bottomline
Creating a flowchart is an effective way of illustrating a process or the sequence
of activities involved in a project. However, before you start creating one, make

sure that you understand what it is supposed to represent. Otherwise, there is a
good chance that the flowchart will only end up confusing people rather than
helping them.
By following the tips mentioned above, you can create an effective and easy-to-
follow chart that will help people understand what it is that you are trying to
communicate.