Huberman Lab

How to Speak Clearly & With Confidence | Matt Abrahams

4070 snips
Nov 17, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Matt Abrahams, a communication expert from Stanford, shares powerful insights on speaking with clarity and confidence. He reveals how memorizing speeches can be detrimental and introduces useful tools like note cards. Matt highlights the importance of authenticity and offers techniques for overcoming stage fright. Listeners will also discover tips for effective storytelling, recovering gracefully when things go wrong, and managing anxiety. His practical advice ensures everyone can engage their audience with impact.
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Don't Memorize Whole Speeches

  • Avoid memorizing full speeches because it adds cognitive load and increases self-monitoring.
  • Use a roadmap and note cards for key words or data instead of rote memorization.
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Lead With Questions

  • Lead conversations with curiosity by asking questions and giving people space to elaborate.
  • Use "tell me more" to draw out reticent speakers and find topics you can latch onto.
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Status Fear Drives Speaking Anxiety

  • Fear of public speaking ties to evolutionary concern about status and access to resources.
  • Status threats make many social and workplace situations feel high-stakes.
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