Why "Any Questions?" Shouldn't Be Your Last Slide

The last slide you want as your last slide is "Any Questions?"

No, I’m not asking if there are any questions; that’s the point. The final slide of your presentation should not be "Any Questions?" And yet, we all do it. It’s ingrained in our presentation DNA to conclude a motivating and compelling presentation with that very phrase.

But why should "Any Questions?" not be your final slide?

• It’s a Letdown: You've just delivered a powerful, hand-crafted presentation, building up to a crescendo, only to end with an anticlimactic "Any questions?"

• It Doesn’t Motivate: "Any questions?" doesn’t provide a clear call to action. It leaves your audience uncertain about what you want them to do next.

• It Can Ruin the Meeting: Imagine the last question is overwhelmingly negative or biased. While those questions may come up, they’re not the final impression you want to leave.

So, go ahead and include the obligatory "Any Questions?" slide—but make it the second-to-last slide. End your presentation with a motivating call to action, an inspiring image, or a compelling idea that drives your audience to get behind your initiative.

Any questions?