How to Present Like a Pro (Even If You’re Not One), with Simon Raybould

If you’ve ever struggled to communicate your expertise in a way that captivates your audience—whether in presentations, pitches, or even casual conversations—this episode is for you. Simon Raybold, a former scientist turned professional speaker and presentations trainer, shares hard-won insights on how to move from "data dumping" to delivering messages that inspire action. Whether you’re a leader, entrepreneur, or expert, mastering this skill is non-negotiable for building authority and influence.Three Key TakeawaysFocus on Outcomes, Not Processes 🎯Your audience cares about the result of your work, not the technical details.Simon’s analogy: "Excel sorts data—do you care about the algorithm? No. You just want the sorted list."Action: Ask yourself, "What’s the one thing I want my audience to do after hearing me?" and reverse-engineer your message from there.Storytelling Is an Industrial Process 📖Great speakers don’t rely on luck—they collect, refine, and deploy stories strategically.Simon’s tip: Treat stories like a library. Tag them by theme (e.g., "customer service," "failure," "breakthrough") so you can pull the right one when needed.Action: Start a "story bank" in Notion or a notebook. Capture moments where you thought, "This might be useful later."Script Less, Improvise More 🎤Writing a word-for-word script often backfires—it sounds robotic and leaves no room for authenticity.Instead, use bullet points and rehearse out loud to build "muscle memory" for your key messages.Action: Try Simon’s "aged aunt" method: Explain your topic to an imaginary aunt (or a 12-year-old). The parts that hold her attention are your keepers.About SimonSimon started life as a research scientist. After over two and a half decades building an international reputation as a world leader in his field, and a stint managing the UK's largest social science research unit he shifted paths to look at how to better EXPLAIN all the great research that was being done.A best seller (and two non-entities) later, his most recent book is called StoryMaking and it's a forensic examination of how to *use* stories not just tell them.I should add that Simon's also been a lighting designer for dance companies, a playwright, actor, opera director and a fire eaterhttps://storymaking.business/----Get your copy of my Personal Brand Business Blueprint It's the FREE roadmap to starting, scaling or just fixing your expert business.www.amplifyme.agency/roadmap----Subscribe to my Youtube!! Follow on Instagram and Twitter @bobgentleJoin the Amplify Insiders Facebook Community : www.amplifyme.agency/insidersPlease take a second to rate this show in Apple Podcasts. ❤ It will mean a lot to me.

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