Dr Simon Moore, Behaviour Explainer

19 Nov

In this episode, business psychologist and veteran speaker Simon Moore joins the podcast to share how he accidentally became a public speaker, despite being a natural introvert. Simon talks about being “tricked” into his first lecture, discovering he enjoyed performing, and how authenticity and adaptability have shaped his 30-year career. He discusses the psychology behind audience engagement, why performance matters as much as expertise, and how speakers should challenge audiences rather than just inform them.

Simon shares practical advice for speakers on delivery, presence and avoiding “slide dependency,” along with guidance for event organisers on how to get the best from their speakers by focusing on problems over topics. He also shares memorable speaking moments, including delivering a keynote in total darkness in Monaco when the power failed.

Takeaways

Great speaking is a performance as well as expertise—audiences engage with confidence, personality and delivery.
Speakers shouldn’t “be themselves” on stage—they should be a natural version of themselves that feels comfortable to perform.
Slides should be for the speaker, not the audience—use images and prompts, not text to read aloud.
Audiences don’t know if you forget something; mistakes are only mistakes if you highlight them.
Authentic, imperfect delivery is more engaging than scripted precision.
Speakers should challenge audiences and not just tell them what they want to hear.
Event organisers should share audience frustrations and current problems so speakers can offer solutions, not just information.
Practical takeaways matter: audiences remember tools and resolution of real challenges more than facts.
Being adaptable is critical—power cuts, audience sizes, tech failures and unexpected formats should be embraced, not feared.