Use Flip Charts Backwards

This is a cool little trick I learned years ago.

You’ve probably seen presenters struggle with the flip chart paper, as they try to lift it over the top of the chart. The paper gets crumpled, and won’t fall properly. Most speakers have struggled with this, from time to time.

When I use a flip chart, I turn all of the pages up first, so that I begin using the last page of the pad, and I flip them from back to front. I do this for two reasons:

First, when the pages are flipped over the top of the chart, it’s much easier to grab them from behind the chart. The pages are already separated, and they’re at chest height, so I don’t have to bend down.

Second, once I grab the sheet, there’s already a forward pulling force on it, because the sheets are mounted on the front of the chart, and the fold is pulling the paper for me. I simply have to lift the sheet a little, and let gravity drop it smoothly into place.

Try it! Flip the papers of the flip chart backwards, from back to front. You’ll see how smoothly you can flow through those pages, with next to zero effort, and no awkward fumbles.

So, what’s the lesson? I think you get it!