Your Organizational Charts Matter

May 27, 2025 | Podcast

World at work Your Organizational Charts Matter ep 115

“You’re never overworked; you’re underorganized. The org chart should help you fix that.”

I’ve seen it time and time again: organizations running on adrenaline instead of intention. When we avoid deliberate planning, our teams end up overwhelmed, unclear on their roles, and unsure of what success looks like. That’s why I believe your organizational chart isn’t just a formality—it’s a leadership tool.

In this episode, Katie and I unpack why org charts matter more than you think. When done right, they reflect customer needs, align internal support, and distribute leadership effectively. The biggest mistake I see? Leaders add roles to put out fires instead of stepping back to plan proactively. It doesn’t take long before responsibilities overlap, key tasks fall through the cracks, and no one feels truly equipped to deliver their best work.

We also explore what happens when someone leaves an organization. Too often, their workload is merged into another role without any thought about capacity or compensation. Sometimes that’s necessary—but if you don’t pause and reassess, you risk burning people out and compromising quality.

The solution? Every few years—or sooner, when there’s significant change—take a hard look at what your customers need, what’s changed, and what roles will meet that need moving forward. Then rebuild your org chart accordingly, including job descriptions that reflect the future, not the past.

When you lead your org chart with intention, you don’t just create structure. You create clarity, confidence, and momentum.