10 Process Map Templates & Examples in ClickUp, Excel & Word

Vivian Tejeda

ClickUp Contributor

January 27, 2023

Max 9min read

A process map is an incredibly useful tool when managing projects. 💡

It helps you break down complex tasks and processes into easy-to-understand visuals. With a process map in tow, you have less trouble identifying areas of improvement as well as potential bottlenecks in any given project. 

A wide range of tools can be used to create process maps, including ClickUp, Excel, or even Word. 💻

The good news? 

You never have to start from scratch when creating a process map that’s visually appealing, shareable, and editable. And in this article, we provide an overview of 10 process map templates and example templates to get you planning. 

What is a Process Mapping Template?

A process map template is a diagram that visualizes a process and details the individual steps involved in the task. It’s designed to help project managers—in whatever capacity—identify areas of improvement and potential bottlenecks in their workflows. 

What makes a good process mapping template?

A detailed process map template is everything you’d expect it to be—clear, concise, and visually organized. It should be easy to read and understand, include all necessary information for those involved, and make use of symbols, arrows, and boxes to represent the different steps from end to end.

A good process map should be optimized for the specific use case. For example, you should use a swimlane process map to visualize who is responsible for each step in a process. 🏊

On the other hand, you can use a flowchart process map—complete with symbols—to visualize all the steps in a process that solves a specific problem. 

How to create a process map

Creating a process map starts with determining the project scope. This includes pinpointing the goals and objectives, key stakeholders, and tasks to be done. 📝

The next step is to break down each task into smaller steps and analyze which steps are connected and how. From there, use a process mapping tool to create the map. 

ClickUp comes with built-in tools to provide shapes, labels, and arrows to help visualize the task flow and illustrate the connections between tasks. You’re able to add colors and labels too. 

Now, how do you do this?

Creating a process map with ClickUp Mind Maps is one of the easiest and most intuitive ways to get started. First, select + View at the top of your ClickUp workspace and click the icon to create a new Mind Map. 🗺️

From there you’ll choose between two options:

Task mode

This mode displays all of the tasks within your mind map. This makes it easy to rearrange your workspace because it facilitates dragging branches to adjust your nodes. You’re also able to create, edit, and delete tasks as you go. 

Blank mode

If you’d rather work with Blank mode, you can create mind maps with disconnected nodes. With Blank mode, you’re able to create as many nodes as you want and then easily convert them to tasks in a list of your choice. 

Then, starting with the main mode, click on + Task to begin building your mind map. Add a name for each task and press enter to create it.

As you add branches and nodes, you can use color coding to accurately illustrate each step. When you’re finished, it’s easy to save and share your process map with the rest of your team.

10 Process Map Templates You Need to Chart Your Success

Here’s a closer look at 10 different process maps across several use cases:

1. ClickUp Process Map Whiteboard Template

The ClickUp Process Map Whiteboard template is a great resource for project managers and creatives alike. It helps them clearly visualize the flow of tasks throughout each process stage.

This way, you unearth the most important activities at each stage so you prioritize the tasks that’ll move you forward. 🚚

This is a beginner-friendly detailed process map template. With ClickUp Whiteboards, you’re able to add to or edit the process map as you see fit. Instead of toggling between tools to create a shareable process map, ClickUp enables you to create one, save it, and easily share it with the team. 

The template includes a colorful, visually organized column format and is optimized for tracking the flow of a project. It also has labels for each stage of the process, including goals, activities, and action items.

It comes with two statuses, one custom field, and three view types — so you have plenty of flexibility there.

2. ClickUp Process Map Flowchart Template

A flow chart is a simplified visualization of how an entire process happens. This is usually denoted by certain shapes, labels, and connecting lines from beginning to end.

This ClickUp Process Map Flowchart Template is great for understanding the logical sequence of a task or process. It helps you break down large projects into smaller, more manageable components. Once finished, this process mapping template makes it easy to rearrange and optimize as you visualize a project from beginning to end.

This template is especially useful for visualizing complex workflows, and it’s adjustable with color, shapes, labels, and lines to suit the needs of any project. 🖍️

With two statuses and two view types, you don’t have to start a process flowchart from scratch.

3. ClickUp PDCA Process Map Template

Plan, Do, Check, and Act. Those are the four phases of ClickUp’s PDCA Process Map Template. With it, projects become easier to execute. 🚦

The process mapping template is built around each of the four phases, so tasks within them become more manageable. Once you’ve broken down and categorized your tasks, it becomes much easier to tell which tasks are most important.

The PDCA process map is a great way to take your process mapping up a notch because it gives you a different vision of your overall project. If you’re leading a team and need an easy visual to work from, use a PDCA process map. 

When managing a project, there are a ton of tasks to juggle—no surprise there. However, it helps to remember that process mapping breaks down the entirety of a project into small, workable pieces. Who doesn’t love simplicity?

4. ClickUp Process Mapping Task Template

With process mapping, you standardize the repetitive tasks that come together to run your business. This ClickUp Process Mapping Task Template is ideal for those looking to break down and track the individual tasks involved in any process. It includes customizable columns, such as “Time”, “Resource”, and “Cost.”

This way you accurately measure the time, cost, and resources associated with each task. Additionally, each task is assignable to a particular team member, which makes it easy to track and manage complex projects (within process maps too). 📊

One of the great things about process mapping is that you don’t only get clear on tasks and project stages, but you’re also clear on who is responsible for what. Using this ClickUp template adds visibility to project responsibilities, which are often a headache to keep straight without a shared breakdown with the team. 

5. ClickUp Simple Process Map Task Template

Imagine having a clear map that shows the flow of activities per stage of a particular process. That’s ClickUp’s Simple Process Map Template in a nutshell.

Project managers use a process map template to break down complex tasks for a project into simple, easy-to-follow steps. It helps to identify areas where the workflow can be streamlined—like cutting down on tasks to stay within a budget for example—and areas of logistical improvement. 

Much like the rest of ClickUp’s process flowchart templates, you’re able to assign tasks to team members, track progress, and measure success without ever having to start a process map from scratch.

6. ClickUp Swimlane Process Map Template

Using ClickUp’s Swimlane Process Map Template is an excellent resource for project management duties because of its ability to denote who is responsible for certain tasks within a workflow. As a way to keep everyone in their “lane,” a swimlane process map denotes subtasks and events within clear lanes.

Worried about assigning too much responsibility to one team member and not spreading resources more evenly? A swimlane process map helps you visually redistribute responsibility as you see fit. 

It’s a great template for beginners wanting to create a process map. And comes with two statuses and two view types. 👓

7. ClickUp Simple Mind Map Template

Starting a project? Want to create a process map as well?

Don’t forget to do some brainstorming!

ClickUp’s Simple Mind Map Template enables you to jot down some notes and off-the-top-of-your-head ideas with ease. You’re also able to brainstorm collaboratively, so ideas and projects don’t happen in a vacuum.

Along with two statuses and three view types, it’s easy to create nodes, connect ideas, and rearrange process workflows until you land on something that works. 📈

Whether you want to use this business process mapping template for ideas or collaboration, you’ll have the best of both worlds.

8. Excel Process Map Template

When all else fails, there’s always trusty Excel to turn to. There’s no telling what’s possible with it, including creating process maps that help you cut out repetitive tasks or establish new ones with a well-mapped out point of reference.

With an Excel Process Map Template, you ditch having to explain a business process mapping scenario over and over again so you save time. ⌛

The template’s intuitive interface and ability make it easy to create and format tables. Excel’s template enables you to effectively map processes quickly in just a couple of clicks. The template offers different shapes, lines, and arrows to denote the flow of a process.

Not to mention, Excel templates know no bounds. There are a ton more designed to help you create detailed process maps for different purposes. However, this template is a solid starting point. 

9. PowerPoint Business Process Map Template

Did you know there’s a slew of process map templates to create PowerPoint presentations too? The PowerPoint Process Map template simplifies the process of creating an effective and visually engaging presentation on business process improvement with just a few edits. 

It uses intuitive icons, shapes, and arrows to illustrate each step of the process—including Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control—which provides an easy-to-understand visual representation.

Plus, it has a library of predefined images and custom elements to dress up the slides and make them look even more professional—ideal for a little buttoned-up business process mapping scenario. 💼

10. Microsoft Word Six Sigma Process Map Template

TemplateLab provides beautiful Microsoft Word Process Map templates perfect for avid Microsoft users. Specifically, this Six Sigma map.

With it, you’re able to identify potential areas for improvement, such as eliminating waste, increasing efficiency, and reducing costs. Six Sigma maps are perfect for visualizing and monitoring performance metrics, ensuring customer satisfaction, and improving overall process performance. 

Once you find the more complex steps in a process, the process map helps you simplify or even eliminate them for a cleaner system. 🧹

Templates Are Only the Tip of the Iceberg

Process maps provide a handy visual for teams that want to stay organized while making processes and working efficiently. 

However, process mapping templates are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the tools that help streamline any project from beginning to end. With ClickUp’s automations, customizable workspaces, assignable tasks, time tracking, and more, you have a much smoother time managing different projects. 

Its many templates provide an easy and intuitive way to get started, but the possibilities are limitless. Want to give it a try?

Create your own free ClickUp workspace today to get started!