How to make a process flow diagram
A process flow diagram shows how work moves from a trigger to an outcome. It is the quickest way to spot delays, duplicated effort and steps that nobody owns.
Gather the steps first
Talk to the people who do the work, or do it yourself and write down each step as it happens. Capture what actually happens, not what the manual says should happen. Note where the work waits, where decisions are made and where it can go wrong.
Draw the main path first
- Start with a terminator for the trigger, such as "Order received".
- Add one process shape per step, in order, using short action phrases.
- Add a decision diamond wherever the path splits, and label every exit.
- Finish with a terminator for the outcome.
Then add the exceptions
Once the main path reads well, add the unhappy paths: payment fails, item out of stock, approval refused. Keep them to the side so the main route stays easy to follow.
Build it quickly in NodeFlow
- Select a shape and press Ctrl+Enter to add a connected shape below it, with its label ready to type.
- Drag a new connection into empty space to add the next shape and connect it in one go.
- Or type the steps into File, Build from text or CSV, using the "Steps with arrows" option, and let NodeFlow lay it out.
Review and keep it current
Walk through the diagram with the people who do the work and fix what is wrong. Save it to your account, share a read-only link, and use version history to see how the process changed over time.