Human beings are naturally curious. Our brains are wired to seek answers and close information gaps. When we encounter an unanswered question, a puzzle, or an incomplete story, our minds instinctively want resolution.
This psychological phenomenon is often called the “curiosity gap.”
In the world of public speaking, great speakers understand that attention isn’t something you demand but something you earn.
… and one of the fastest ways to earn it is to create a gap between what the audience knows and what they want to know.
However, before going further, it’s important to clarify something: Mystery is NOT the same as confusion.
Confusion makes audiences feel lost and it happens when information is unclear, disorganized, or difficult to understand.
Meanwhile, mystery makes audiences feel intrigued and it happens when information is intentionally and strategically withheld until the right moment.
Think of a great tour guide. He or she doesn’t blindfold visitors and spin them in circles. Instead, he or she says:
“Wait until you see what’s behind this door.”
The path remains clear though the destination remains hidden.
That’s an effective mystery.
How can you apply this to your public speaking presentation?
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Start with a Question, Not an Answer
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Tell Stories Like a Skilled Storyteller
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Use Delayed Reveals
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Let Silence Do Some of the Work
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Introduce an Unexpected Twist
Many presentations begin with facts, definitions, and background information. While these elements are important, they rarely spark immediate curiosity.
Questions do.
Consider these opening examples:
“What if everything you’ve been taught about confidence is backwards?”
“Why did one simple speech change the course of a company’s future?”
“How did a seven-word phrase save an entire project from failure?”
“What can a forgotten notebook teach us about leadership?”
Each of these questions create a mental itch that the audience wants to scratch. They’ll stay engaged because they expect an answer.
The best stories don’t reveal everything at once. Instead, they unfold piece by piece.
The problem?
Many speakers make the mistake of giving away the ending immediately.
For example:
“Today I’m going to tell you how I failed at my first business, learned important lessons, and eventually succeeded.”
Here, the audience already knows how the story ends… and that could be boring for them.
A more engaging approach might be:
“Three months after launching my dream business, I sat alone in an empty office staring at a number that made my stomach drop.”
Now, people want details. They want context. Most importantly, they want resolution.
A good story creates tension before delivering answers.
Imagine saying:
“The most valuable lesson I learned about leadership came from someone I never expected. I’ll tell you who that was in a moment.”
The audience now carries that question with them.
Who was it—a mentor? A CEO? A celebrity? A customer?
You see, the delayed reveal creates anticipation.
When the answer finally arrives, it feels more satisfying because people have been waiting for it.
A reminder, though: Moderate this strategy as too many delayed reveals can feel manipulative. When used thoughtfully, they become powerful attention anchors.
Many speakers fear silence. They rush to fill every second with words. However, mystery often lives in pauses.
Imagine delivering this statement:
“Then the doctor looked at me and said…”
Pause for just a few seconds. You’ll see, the audience instinctively leans in.
That is because silence creates space for imagination, and imagination is often more powerful than explanation.
The audience begins writing possibilities in their minds before you even continue speaking.
People love surprises because they disrupt expectations. A speaker can create mystery simply by challenging assumptions.
For example:
“The biggest communication mistake I’ve ever seen wasn’t made by a bad speaker. It was made by an exceptional one.”
Now, you’ve created a contradiction: How can a great speaker make the biggest mistake?
… and so the audience wants clarification.
This technique works because our brains are attracted to unresolved contradictions.
We want the pieces to fit together. Until they do, we’re paying attention.
Like any powerful ingredient, mystery works best in the RIGHT amount.
Too little mystery and the presentation feels predictable.
Too much mystery and the audience becomes frustrated.
The goal is not to keep listeners in the dark; it’s to keep them engaged while steadily rewarding their curiosity.
Every question you raise should eventually receive an answer.
Every mystery should serve the message.
If curiosity becomes a distraction rather than a tool, you’ve gone too far.
Think of mystery as seasoning…
A little elevates the entire meal. Too much overwhelms everything else.
Make Your Audience Want the Next Sentence
You see, many speakers focus on delivering information. However, great speakers focus on creating anticipation.
They understand that attention is earned one moment at a time.
One question. One story. One surprising detail. One carefully timed reveal.
When audiences are curious, they listen differently.
They stop checking their phones. They stop thinking about lunch. They stop wondering how much longer the presentation will last.
Instead, they become invested.
They want answers. They want resolution. They want to know what comes next.
Perhaps that’s one of the most powerful goals any speaker can achieve!
After all, when people genuinely want the next sentence, you’ve already won their attention.
All you have to do is keep the mystery alive long enough to deliver the message that matters.
About The Dynamic Marketing Communiqué’s
“Thursdays: Speak on the Shoulders of Giants”
In a meeting with one person…
… a boardroom with five people…
… or a huge venue with hundreds of people…
—whatever the situation or setting, it’s very important to learn and eventually master the art of public speaking.
No matter what, you always need to effectively get your message across.
What good is a presentation with awesome content if you don’t deliver it properly?
Every Thursday, we publish different tips, insights, and secrets on how you can improve your presentation skills to captivate your audience and lead interesting discussions.
The need for great presentation skills applies EVERYWHERE.
(Small meetings with your team, big meetings with your boss, an important marketing pitch, speaking engagements for events with a big audience, etc.)
Learning these skills is not just for the corporate world. Being in other industries such as the Arts, Information Technology, Medicine, and Education while knowing how to communicate and present well will definitely give you an edge.
Have that advantage.
Hope you find this week’s public speaking tip interesting and helpful.
Stay tuned for next Thursday’s “Speak on the Shoulders of Giants!”
Cheers,
Henry Desai
Managing Director
Valens Dynamic Marketing Capabilities
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