15 Tips to be Flip Chart Smart

By /
February 2022:

I had a client ask me recently, “Do people still use flip chart stands during training or facilitated sessions?” Of course, my answer was an enthusiastic YES!
During the last two years many trainers and facilitators have leveraged new technologies to make their sessions sparkle and POP. However, with the return to in-person or hybrid sessions many are reverting back to the traditional flip chart stand as their go to tool. And that would certainly be ME!

Here are my 15 top tips to help you effectively set up and get the most out of your flip chart stand:
Photo by Kevin Woblick
  1. Choose wisely. Use a stand that is sturdy and won’t tip or fall over. Make sure the stand is adjustable to match your height. Pick one that can be moved easily for repositioning in the space. Look for a stand with locking wheels!

  2. Pick a spot. Position the stand so that all participants can see it. Walk around the room before starting your session to check all sight-lines.

  3. Stock up. Start with plenty of paper/newsprint loaded onto the stand. Have an additional supply of paper close by.

  4. Use dark, unscented markers. Choose coloured, chisel-tip markers to maximize visibility – ie: black, purple, blue or brown. Avoid red and green markers to best engage people who are colour blind. Resist purchasing scented markers or markers with a strong smell. Use red and orange to highlight or show emphasis only. Avoid yellow, as it is difficult to see.

  5. Check your markers. Test them regularly to make sure they are not dried out. Toss markers that are no longer writing in vivid, saturated colors.

  6. Prepare to post. Keep masking tape, painter’s tape or sticky (blue) putty on hand to post sheets, as needed. Be sure to confirm permission from your venue host before taping paper on walls.

  7. Pull up not down. Tear sheets off the stand using the “cape method” (up and over) vs pulling the sheets down. Avoid rips and small tears!

  8. Print, don’t write. Use clear, legible, printed letters vs handwriting to ensure everyone in the room can read the text. Avoid block letters only, opting for both UPPER and lower case letters.

  9. Set limits. Aim for no more than twenty (20) words on any one piece of newsprint. Keep the paper from looking to crowded and busy! Limit lines to six (6) per sheet.

  10. Print first, then talk. Avoid speaking while you are facing the stand and printing text on the newsprint. Be sure to turn to your audience. Invite a volunteer to scribe for you or rely on a co-facilitator to share roles.

  11. Draw pictures. Include easy images, diagrams and visuals for effect. Let your inner artist shine.

  12. Create mystery. Fold the bottom of a sheet up to the top of the chart and tape it – to hide pre-prepared text and to create curiosity.

  13. Interact with the flip chart. Use a finger or a marker to point to/touch words for emphasis.

  14. Take pictures. You can send these pictures to participants for their records afterwards, as needed. Using the camera on your mobile device should make taking pictures quick and easy.

  15. Use a pencil for notes. Print tiny reminder notes/talking points for yourself in the upper corner of a sheet – just big enough for you to see only.
Did I change the way you think about using a flip chart stand for facilitation or training? Any additional ideas about how to make the most out of your flip chart? Tag us on social media with your ideas!

Cheers,
Gerard Murphy
Founder and CEO,
Barefoot Facilitation Inc.