Perhaps you're an incredible presenter, very comfortable building rapport, and your groups go away retaining all they've heard and experienced. But somehow, no matter how gifted you may be, spelling while you're presenting always seems to be an issue. There's something about writing on a flip chart in 224-point font that does even the best spellers in.

Lorri Bye, training and development specialist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, has a solution: a spell check for flip charts. How does this work, you may ask, and why have you never heard of it before? Good questions.

At the top right corner of your flip chart, draw a 2”x2” box. Inform your audience that if there is a “check” in the box, then spelling doesn't count. Then proceed to put that checkmark in the box! This simple technique allows you a naturally humorous way to let your audience know there is a high probability something will be misspelled—but those misspellings won't prey on some of the more anal retentive minds because they know you're also aware.

Submit your creative tips to EzineEditor@BobPikeGroup.com.