Flip Chart

1. Be prepared. ...
2. Choose dark, saturated colors. ...
3. Use colors consistently. ...
4. Position the flip chart to maximize visibility for your audience. ...
5. Minimize the time spent standing in front of the flip chart. ...
6. Be neat… it matters. ...
7. Print. ...
8. Print large.

Core Benefits of Flip Charts

Flip charts are both a static display tool (like slides or props) and a dynamic creation tool (like a whiteboard or the ubiquitous back of the napkin). This versatility offers many key benefits to speakers, including:

1. Writing or drawing on a flip chart is an active process, and energizes the speaker. Whenever I step up to the flip chart, my energy levels rise.

1. Audiences ask more questions. I don’t really know why, but perhaps it’s because the scribbles or sketches on a flip chart feel less permanent (than electronic slides), and thus more open to questioning and dialogue.

1. Writing takes time, and this provides healthy pauses for your audience to absorb information or take notes.

1. Flip charts and brainstorming go together like peanut butter and bananas (yummy!). One of my favorite training techniques is using a flip chart to record brainstorming sessions. I ask questions, and then speedily record responses shouted out by my audience.

1. Flip charts are low tech and analog. You don’t need to worry about passwords, projector bulbs, or extension cords — just present! (I’m not saying they are better than slides; rather, I think speakers should master both options.)

Flip Chart Do’s and Taboos

Using flip charts effectively is a basic skill every competent speaker must possess. You may not use flip charts in every presentation, but you should be able to wield one effectively when appropriate.

Here’s a few tips to help you:

1. Be prepared.
Check and double check that you have markers (and that they aren’t dried out) and enough paper.

2. Choose dark, saturated colors.
To maximize visibility all the way to the back of the room, stick to high contrast colors like black, blue, red, or dark green. Stay away from yellow or anything pastel-shaded.

3. Use colors consistently.
If you are using more than one color (you should), then use them consistently. I typically use black as my base color, but then use red or blue to emphasize key words, or annotate the text.

4. Position the flip chart to maximize visibility for your audience.
I’ve seen speakers use flip charts from exactly where they stood at the beginning of the session: in a far, dark corner. Don’t hesitate to move the flip chart to a more convenient location.

4. Position the flip chart to maximize visibility for your audience.

I’ve seen speakers use flip charts from exactly where they stood at the beginning of the session: in a far, dark corner. Don’t hesitate to move the flip chart to a more convenient location.

5. Minimize the time spent standing in front of the flip chart.

Lots of people advise standing to the side, even when writing. I find this difficult to do without compromising legibility. However, it is important to quickly move off to the side when you aren’t writing or drawing to avoid being an obstacle.

6. Be neat… it matters.
If nobody can read it, it’s pointless. Practice your penmanship. It’s not hard to do, but it does take practice as it is different than writing on a desk or table.

7. Print.
Don’t write.

8. Print large.
Make sure every word you print can be read by the person sitting in the back row of the room.

9. Print straight across.

Keep your words/phrases oriented straight along the page.

Don’t dip down as if your words are tumbling down a waterfall.

If you find this difficult, pre-trace some faint pencil lines along

the flip chart pages.

10. Give the flip chart the focus.

If you are using both slides and a flip chart within the same presentation, consider whether the two are needed concurrently.

If you don’t need your slides when using a flip chart, black out

the slides (use the “B” key in PowerPoint to do this) to put the

entire focus on the flip chart.

11. Don’t use flip charts for lengthy sentences.

Focus on single words or short phrases. This will keep the

tempo quick and active — just what the flip chart should be.

12. Draw pictures. You don’t need to be an artist.

Of course flip charts are good for planned diagrams, but they shine when used for impromptu sketches. Use colors wisely.

13. Make tables, charts, or graphs.

Let your imagination go wild.