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How to Speak Clearly & With Confidence | Matt Abrahams

Overview

Shownote

Highlights

Transcript

Chapters

Pins

How to Speak Clearly & With Confidence | Matt Abrahams

Huberman Lab

Nov 17

How to Speak Clearly & With Confidence | Matt Abrahams

How to Speak Clearly & With Confidence | Matt Abrahams

Huberman Lab

Huberman Lab

Nov 17

Overview Shownote Highlights Transcript Chapters Pins

Shownote

My guest is Matt Abrahams, lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business and a world expert in communication and public speaking. He explains how to speak with clarity and confidence and how to be more authentic in your communication in all settings: pu...

Highlights

In this insightful conversation, communication expert Matt Abrahams joins Andrew Huberman to explore the science and practice of effective speaking. The discussion goes beyond traditional public speaking advice, focusing on psychological, physiological, and strategic tools that enhance clarity, connection, and authenticity across all forms of communication.

01:30

Avoid memorizing speeches; use a simple roadmap instead.

05:40

Start with connection, not credentials—engage the audience like an action movie.

09:05

Children excel at improvisational tasks because they have fewer inhibitions and don't over-monitor their performance.

15:40

Wordless Lego manuals use rhythmic steps to build motivation and accomplishment.

22:19

Understanding the audience determines how much information to provide.

23:26

Success in communication means the audience can act on the message, not just receive it.

24:25

Heuristics are unconscious tools that reduce uncertainty but can lead to unproductive thinking patterns.

30:18

Our brains understand stories better than random lists.

37:09

Borrowing ideas from others is better than just copying.

42:06

Stand still when landing a punchline to maximize impact

48:40

Ask questions and observe to make conversations more fluid and comfortable

50:32

A good speaker acts as a tour guide, guiding the audience and ensuring they gain value.

1:00:55

VR tools allow practicing presentations with a simulated audience and customizable responses.

1:01:47

Improv games enhance in-the-moment processing and are used in Stanford business courses

1:09:36

Being good at conversation doesn't automatically make you a good speaker; the skills partially overlap.

1:11:00

Mateína is now in Whole Foods nationwide with zero sugar and natural energy benefits.

1:14:52

Editing skills train the brain to focus information and respond effectively to questions.

1:16:30

A talk using music and oil droplet visuals led to a MacArthur Genius Award.

1:21:20

Improv helps uncover personal strengths and comfort levels in communication.

1:28:18

Mark Zilka calmly continued his talk after spilling water on his laptop at Stanford.

1:30:32

Deliberate long exhales slow heart rate and calm the nervous system

1:34:32

Non-sleep deep rest (NSDR) or yoga nidra can help recover from sleep loss and improve alertness for public speaking.

1:44:43

Start self-introductions with what you're passionate about, not your name

1:53:59

The pandemic deprived Gen Z of critical in-person communication experiences

1:56:04

Effective communication involves listening, not just speaking

2:03:38

Sparring in martial arts trains spontaneous communication like impromptu speaking

2:06:49

Non-native speakers should focus on getting messages across, not sounding like natives.

2:10:17

A goal has three parts: information, emotion, and action.

2:10:57

Envisioning positive outcomes helps reduce anxiety in public speaking.

2:15:43

Tell the time, not build the clock—get the bottom line up front.

2:17:30

Use 'tell me more' to draw out clearer responses from poor communicators

2:19:49

Creating an anxiety management plan helps reduce anxiety in high-pressure communication.

Chapters

Matt Abrahams

00:00

Public Speaking Fear, Status; Speech Delivery

03:21

Speech, Connection, Credibility; Authenticity

05:36

Monitoring, Self-Judgement; Memorization, Tool: Object Relabeling Exercise

09:05

Sponsors: Eight Sleep & BetterHelp

13:13

Cadence & Speech Patterns; Lego Manuals, Storytelling & Emotion

15:40

Visual vs Audio Content, Length, Detail

19:18

Understanding Audience's Needs, Tool: Recon – Reflection – Research

23:19

Judgement in Communication, Heuristics

24:25

Questions, Responding to the Audience, Tool: Structuring Information

27:33

Feedback & Observation; Tools: Three-Pass Speech Review; Communication Reflection Journal

31:34

Movement, Stage Fright, Content Expertise

39:09

Sponsors: AGZ by AG1 & Joovv

42:54

Multi-Generation Communication Styles & Trust; Curiosity, Conversation Turns

45:34

Linear vs Non-Linear Speech, Tool: Tour Guide Expectations

50:32

Develop Communication Skills, Audience Size, Tools: Distancing; Practicing

53:21

Tool: Improv & Agility; Great Communication Examples; Divided Attention

1:01:43

One-on-One Communication vs Public Speaking

1:09:36

Sponsor: Mateína

1:11:00

Neurodiversity, Introverts, Communication Styles; Writing & Editing

1:12:00

Calculating Risk, Tool: Violating Expectations & Engaging Audience

1:16:30

Authenticity, Strengths, Growth & Improv

1:21:20

Damage Control, Tools: Avoid Blanking Out; Contingency Planning, Silence

1:23:23

Nerves, Tool: Breathwork; Spontaneous Communication; Beta-Blockers

1:30:32

Communication Hygiene, Caffeine, Tools: NSDR/Yoga Nidra; Vestibular System & Sleep

1:34:29

Conversation Before Speaking; Delivering Engaging Speeches

1:40:08

Sponsor: Function

1:42:56

Anticipation, Tool: Introduce Yourself; Connect to Environment, Phones

1:44:43

Customer Service & Kids Jobs; Tool: Role Model Communication; COVID Pandemic

1:51:30

Quiet But Not Shy, Extroverts; Social Media Presence

1:56:04

Martial Arts, Sport, Running, Presence & Connection

2:00:25

Apologizing; Communication Across Accents & Cultures

2:04:16

Interruptions, Tools: Paraphrasing; Speech Preparation

2:07:36

Public Speaking Fear, Tool: Envision Positive Outcome; Arguments & Mediation

2:10:57

Omit Filler Words, Tool: Landing Phrases; Time & Storytelling

2:13:19

Asking For a Raise; Poor Communicators & Curiosity; Memorization

2:16:52

Pre-Talk Anxiety Management; Acknowledgements

2:19:49

Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

2:23:47

Transcript

Andrew Huberman: Do you ever recommend people memorize speeches? Matt Abrahams: Never. The reason memorizing is so bad is it burdens your cognitive load. You've created the right way to say it, and you're constantly comparing what you wanted to say to wha...