Was noticing the other day that when talking to someone I don't know very well I tend to clasp my hands on my knees or the arms of a chair so I don't make hand gestures while I talk, like I'm worried they'll give away underlying awkwardness or something
Not that kind of awkwardness though, I think I explained it poorly, it's more it's a way to help concentrate on what you're saying and how someone's responding, when you're still getting used to talking to them and don't know what they react to in what way etc