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Abrahams: Purposeful movement and broad gestures dissipate physical shakiness from adrenaline

Matt Abrahams · Matt Abrahams: How to nail pitches, interviews & presentations | Masters of Scale · Apr 6, 2026 · at 5:34

Stanford communication expert Matt Abrahams discusses physical methods for managing adrenaline and shakiness during presentations.

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“So if you move with purpose, you can give that adrenaline a place to go. So if you're standing up in front of a room, step towards the audience with a welcoming gesture. If you're sitting like this, lean forward, gesture broadly. That gives the shakiness a place to go, and for most people, those two things alone can help many of the symptoms abate.”

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