Strong presentation skills are not about slides or scripts — they are about structure and connection.
Years ago, I watched an interesting video in which Matt Abrahams was speaking to a lecture hall full of Stanford alumni. At the time, I found it interesting, but it didn’t really sink in. Only much later did I realize how relevant his insight is for presentation skills for professionals who want to present with more clarity, ease, and impact.
His message was simple, yet powerful: structure your presentation around a small number of questions you are going to answer.
Back then, it sounded logical, but not particularly profound. Only years later did I understand how deep this insight actually is — and how powerful its effects can be.
So, what are those positive effects, and why is this approach so powerful?
You see what I’m doing right now 😉
With that question, I’m already taking you along.
And in fact, with this single question, I’m already killing multiple birds with one stone.
- A question creates structure and sparks curiosity
By asking a question, your audience immediately knows what is coming next. It clearly signals the topic of the next part of your presentation. At the same time, it triggers curiosity. You create a small “knowledge gap” in the listener’s mind — and the brain naturally wants that gap to be filled.
This makes a question an excellent starting point for a core pillar in the middle of your presentation.
- Presenting becomes easier and more natural
Answering a question is simple: you just explain it in your own words.
Instead of memorizing lines or relying heavily on slides, your only task is to respond to the question you have posed. This makes presenting feel lighter, more natural, and far less forced.
- Stronger connection with your audience
Because you are no longer glued to your PowerPoint, your notes, or your own thoughts, space opens up. Space to connect.
You are sharing an answer with your audience rather than delivering information at them. That shift alone creates a much stronger sense of connection.
- Your presentation becomes more interactive and conversational
Compare these two transitions:
- “Next, I will discuss the positive effects of using questions.”
- “So, what are these positive effects, and why does this matter? Let’s take a look — together.”
The difference is striking. The second feels like an invitation into a conversation rather than a lecture.
Interestingly, speakers who have truly integrated their material start doing this automatically. Those who are still tangled in the content and stuck in their heads often find this difficult. They lack overview, and the presentation hasn’t quite become their own yet.
- Questions match how audiences actually process information
A question also fulfills one of the three essential steps an audience needs in order to absorb information:
- Raise what you are going to talk about
- Give the information
- Ground it so it sticks
Many presentations skip the first or third step and simply send information, slide after slide, bullet point after bullet point — more like reading a report than engaging an audience. Questions naturally solve this.
In conclusion
There are at least five solid reasons to structure your presentation around key questions you answer along the way. It creates clarity, ease, connection, interaction, and understanding — for both you and your audience.
If you’d like support in developing strong, natural presentation skills and applying this approach to your own presentations, you can learn more about my services here.
Good luck.
