Building curiosity with strategic questions in your slides

Curiosity is the spark that keeps your audience engaged. It’s what makes people sit forward, lean in, and pay attention to what you’re presenting. And one of the simplest, yet most effective, ways to ignite that spark is by using strategic questions in your slides.

A well-placed question can transform a presentation from a passive lecture to an interactive journey, where your audience feels compelled to find the answers alongside you. But it’s not just about asking random questions—it’s about asking the right ones in the right way.

In this post, we’ll explore how to use questions strategically in your slide decks to keep your audience hooked, make your content more memorable, and guide them toward your key message.

Why Questions Work: The Psychology of Curiosity

Questions grab attention because they create a gap between what someone knows and what they want to know—a concept psychologists call the information gap theory. When you pose a question, it’s like leaving an unfinished puzzle on the table. Most people can’t resist the urge to fill in the missing pieces.

By incorporating questions into your slides, you’re doing more than delivering content—you’re inviting your audience to think, engage, and connect with your ideas on a deeper level.

Where to Use Questions in Your Slides

Strategic questions can play different roles depending on where you place them in your presentation. Here’s how you can use them effectively:

1. The Hook: At the Start of Your Presentation

Opening with a powerful question immediately grabs attention and sets the tone for what’s to come. It primes your audience to think critically and gets them curious about the answer.
Example: “What if you could double your team’s productivity without hiring anyone new?”

2. The Transition: To Introduce a New Idea

When moving between sections or topics, questions can help bridge the gap and guide your audience’s focus.
Example: “So, how do we solve this problem?”
This not only sets up the next point but also keeps your audience engaged as they anticipate your answer.

3. The Big Reveal: Before Presenting a Key Insight

Positioning a question right before delivering important data or insights builds suspense and makes the answer feel more impactful.
Example: “Why do 85% of startups fail in their first five years?”

4. The Close: To Leave Them Thinking

End your presentation with a question that lingers in the audience’s mind, encouraging them to take action or reflect on your message.
Example: “What’s the one change you can make today to start seeing results?”

How to Write Strategic Questions for Your Slides

Crafting the right questions takes thought and intention. Here are some tips to ensure your questions are as effective as possible:

1. Make It Relevant

Your questions should tie directly to your content and resonate with your audience’s challenges or interests. Avoid generic or overly broad questions that lack focus.
Example: Instead of “What’s the future of technology?” try “How will AI change the way we work in the next five years?”

2. Use Open-Ended Questions

Ask questions that invite curiosity and exploration, rather than those with simple yes/no answers. This encourages your audience to think more critically.
Example: “What factors lead to customer loyalty?” rather than “Is customer loyalty important?”

3. Focus on the Audience’s Perspective

Frame your questions around what your audience cares about, not just what you want to share.
Example: “How can you reduce your team’s stress during busy seasons?” instead of “What does our productivity software do?”

4. Keep It Short and Clear

Long-winded questions can confuse or lose your audience. Aim for brevity and clarity so the question lands instantly.
Example: “What’s stopping you from hitting your goals?”

Designing Slides Around Strategic Questions

How you visually present your question matters just as much as the wording. Here are some tips for designing question-focused slides:

  • Use a Bold Font or Design: Highlight the question as the central focus of the slide.
  • Leave Negative Space: Don’t clutter the slide with too much text—let the question stand out on its own.
  • Incorporate Visuals: Pair your question with an image, icon, or graphic that complements the topic and reinforces curiosity.
  • Add Subtle Animations: Use animations to reveal the question dynamically, building suspense before it appears.

Examples of Curiosity-Driving Questions in Action

Here are a few real-world examples of questions you could use to drive engagement during a presentation:

  • For a sales pitch: “What’s the cost of doing nothing?”
  • For a leadership workshop: “What separates good leaders from great ones?”
  • For a data-driven presentation: “What’s the story behind this number?”
  • For an educational session: “What’s one thing you think you know about this topic?”

Notice how these questions are concise, relevant, and designed to make the audience pause and think.

Questions That Stick

Strategic questions are a powerful way to engage your audience, guide them through your message, and make your presentation unforgettable. By building curiosity into your slides, you’re not just presenting information—you’re creating a conversation.

So, the next time you’re designing a slide deck, ask yourself: What question could I ask here to make my audience lean in? A little curiosity goes a long way in turning a good presentation into a great one.