Using Flip Charts

1. Put the flip chart at the BACK of the room. Then write your presentation’s bullet points on it so that you can read them from the front. This can then be a prompt when you are talking and it will make you look much better than using notes or prompt cards. In a meeting room no-one will take any notice of a flip chart at the back because they are so common.
2. Take the flip chart pad off the easel and lay it flat on the centre of a meeting room table. Provide everyone in the room with a flip chart pen and encourage them to scribble their ideas and thoughts on the page. You will then have a set of meeting notes that have been jointly produced.
3. In a large conference put flip charts throughout the auditorium. Encourage people to write down their questions on the pages during breaks. You can collect these questions, sort through them and organise a useful Q&A session. This is better than asking people to stand up and ask questions, which can be haphazard at best.
4. Prepare a flip chart pad with a motivational quote on each page; or put a daily target on each page. Then put the chart in your reception, or the entrance to your office and turn it to a new page each day. It will look much more spontaneous than posters or pictures and could therefore have much more impact on your staff.
5. Leave a flip chart in your coffee lounge, canteen or by the photocopier. Ask staff to use it as a repository for any ideas they have for the business. It will be a large public suggestion box where people can see what others have suggested and make comments – a sort of paper-based chat room!

1. Try, if you can, to prepare your flip chart pages in advance. This means your audience does not have to wait while you try to draw things on the page.
2. Leave one blank page, at least, between each prepared page. That way you can add extra details or jot down audience comments without having to flick through several pages to reach a blank sheet.
3. If you need to draw diagrams or charts as you deliver your talk create light pencil outlines on the page in advance. The audience will not be able to see your pre-drawn illustrations – but you will and your finished drawing will look more professional as you can copy the marks.
4. Make sure you have a conclusion page at the end of the flip chart. You can then turn to this at the end of your presentation and summarise what you have said.
5. Your first page should either be blank or have a ‘title page’, such as the subject of your presentation. In this way, your first page of text will not distract your audience.
6. On each page that you have written some key points leave plenty of space. This means you can add in comments from the audience (in a different colour) as you go through your talk.
7. Use big letters (but not capitals) so that your audience can read your writing. Each character should be at least three inches tall.
8. Reserve bright colours for charts and diagrams. Text should be in a dark colour, such as black or blue, so it can be easily seen.
9. If you write on the flip chart as you go through your talk, stand to one side so people can see what you have written.
10. After your presentation has finished go back through your flip chart pages and prepare some notes based on what was added during the talk. You can then give this information to the people who were present so they have a record of the event.

This site will help you get the best out of the flip chart – that ubiquitous office object that gets scrawled on, scribbled across and flapped about.

• Have you ever sat in a meeting and wondered what on earth the hieroglyphics all meant?
• Have you ever found it hard to read what was on the flip chart?
• Have you ever wished the person using the flip chart knew what they were doing?
• Have you ever wondered if there is a better way to use a flip chart?
• Have you ever thought of the ways in which a flip chart can be used – other than for scribble?
• If so you have come to the right place. Here we will help you

With this web site you can:

• Discover the secrets of successful flip chart use
• Find out FIVE different ways of using a flip chart
• Learn about training courses for presenting well with flip charts
• Link to other sites with more ideas on using flip charts
• Buy books on flip charts