Presentations that Pop: How to “Invite Curiosity” with Your Presentation

May 25, 2023
Woman in hijab presents to a group of people in a room; geometric shapes in background.

When we teach influential storytelling, we share four ways to level up the influence power of your story. One of these is what we call Invite Curiosity. The concept behind this strategy is that by activating an intellectual or cerebral experience for the audience—getting them to think for themselves—helps them to be engaged in your story AND causes them to have a mental stake in its outcome. Human beings are fundamentally problem solvers and solution finders… we like to figure things out for ourselves. We are most intellectually involved when we have enough information to be informed and enough mystery to be curious for more. When crafting stories, we encourage storytellers to think deeply about how they organize and pace the information they reveal so as to effectively navigate that line between creating mystery and providing answers.


When it comes to crafting a presentation, we encourage our coachees to think about the four super powers on a macro level, and the concept of Invite Curiosity is just as important here as it is in story crafting. Here are some ways to think about using Invite Curiosity in your presentation design to capture attention and gain buy-in from your audience.

Play With Sequencing


A key strategy for inviting curiosity is to disrupt the chronological order of events. This non-linear storytelling technique allows the storyteller to begin at the highest point of drama as a way to bring the audience into the story world, and then by telling the story out of order, the audience is interested in solving the riddle of chronology as well as identifying the message being communicated.


With presentations, playing with sequencing can feel messy. Audiences often want a straightforward message communicated in as few words and minutes as possible. Especially when presenting to investors or executives, presenters are often coached to begin with a quick summary or “tl;dr.” But the interesting thing to notice here is that starting with the “tl;dr” is really another way of saying, “start at the end, not the beginning.”


Starting with the end doesn’t mean you give away the opportunity to invite curiosity. Instead, you have a chance to say something provocative, insightful, or inquisitive that will instantly hook your audience and get them interested in how you got to that end. Now you have their attention, and you can take them back in time to illustrate the journey.


Linger on Decision Points


Another piece of advice we give storytellers is to linger in the options and possibilities before revealing the ultimate decision that a character makes. By exploring the risks, rewards, and stakes of each possible choice, the audience is invited into making that same decision for themselves. A great way to apply this same concept to a presentation is to frame your presentation around a decision that needs to be made. Open with the question and spend the presentation discussing the merits and risks of each option. If your audience is the type to appreciate a recommendation as to which option to choose, do that too. Then make the decision together.


As a member of a Board, Stephanie especially likes it when the Executive Director presents challenges in this way. In many cases, the decision that needs to be made as well as the possible options are even presented in written format ahead of the meeting! This allows the Board to use the time together to ask questions (read: follow their curiosity) and discuss before voting on a decision. This is often a more productive use of the collective time together than simply sitting and listening to a presentation anyway!


Use Microstories in Your Q&A


Another effective way to invite the curiosity of your audience inside a presentation is to think of the Q&A portion as a storytelling opportunity. When an audience member poses a question, take it as a personal challenge to answer that question with a story instead of a set of high-level generalizations. Your audience will remember the examples that you offer and walk away retaining your key messages more effectively. If your audience has mentally wandered off somewhere along the way, this will give an opportunity to re-invite their curiosity through storytelling.


When crafting your presentation, take some time to think about how you’re inviting your audience’s curiosity. What are some strategies that you use?

Summary of Takeaways

Data and information are only half the battle; to truly influence an audience, you must first earn their attention. Inviting curiosity is the "Super Power" that transforms a passive audience into active participants. Here is how to make your presentations pop:


  • Avoid the "Information Dump": The quickest way to lose an audience is by telling them everything at once. Instead of leading with the answer, lead with a question or a mystery. Frame your content as a journey of discovery where the audience feels the need to see the next slide to solve the puzzle.
  • Leverage the "Knowledge Gap": Curiosity is a physiological response to a gap in our knowledge. By highlighting a problem or a surprising statistic before offering the solution, you create a "itch" that only your presentation can scratch.
  • Show, Don't Just Tell: Use evocative visuals and minimal text. When a slide is too busy, the audience stops listening to you to read. When a slide is simple and intriguing, they look to you to provide the context—placing you back in the role of the influential leader.
  • Invite Participation: Don't wait until the end for Q&A. Design moments throughout your presentation that ask the audience to guess an outcome, share a brief insight, or predict a trend. This keeps the "curiosity loop" open and ensures high levels of engagement from start to finish.

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