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The Importance of Eye Contact during a Presentation

October 24, 2017 - Dom Barnard

If there is one simple thing you can do to enhance your impact as a presenter and persuade others to see your point of view, it’s sustained, meaningful eye contact with your audience.

Positive eye contact helps you build rapport with  your audience  and keeps them engaged with your presentation. It also gives them a sense of involvement and conveys your message on a personal level.

Here are the key benefits of eye contact followed by tips on how you can improve yours during a presentation.

Benefits of great eye contact

1. establishes a connection with your audience.

A deliberate look in the eyes of an audience member can communicate how much you care about their thoughts. Sustained eye contact is an invitation to turn your talk into a conversation. It creates a bond between speaker and listener, a connection that is beneficial to both parties.

When you look someone in the eye, they are more likely to look at you, more likely to listen to you, and more likely to buy into your message.

2. Improves your concentration

A room full of people, with all the different lighting and sounds, can be very distracting. Deliberately focussing your eyes on different audience members will help  calm your nerves  and clear your mind. Keep your eye contact steady so you can concentrate on your message.

When you look someone in the eye for three to five seconds, you will naturally slow down your speech, which will make you sound more authoritative.

3. Projects authority and confidence

Have you ever spoken with someone who averts their gaze every time they talk? It’s hard to believe they know what they are talking about and you might find yourself undermining what they are saying.

With sustained, focused eye contact comes authority. If you can’t look people in the eye, you can’t expect them to believe your message or agree with your point of view. Good eye contact can  communicate confidence  and conviction.

4. Facilitates engagement with the audience

People will be more willing to participate in the speech when they see you scanning the crowd. You’ll notice them nodding, frowning and even smiling. As a result, your audience are transformed from passive listeners to active participants.

If you don’t focus on different audience members or are  looking at the floor  (or your slides), the audience are less likely to engage with the presentation and start thinking about something completely different – you’ll have effectively lost that participant as they are no longer listening to what you are saying.

Tips on how to improve eye contact

1. see your audience as individual listeners.

Before you speak, take a moment to pause and scan the room for friendly faces. Connect with listeners who you think will engage with you and focus on one audience member at a time. You’ll be more conversational and confident if you do so.

2. Involve everyone in the conversation

The key here is to connect with as many people as possible. If you’re dealing with a large crowd and it’s impractical to make eye contact with everyone, divide the audience into sections and just choose one member from each group to connect with. When shifting your focus from one area to another, don’t follow a pattern otherwise you’ll appear unnatural.

3. Sustain eye contact long enough to make a connection, then move on

According to  Toastmasters , the organization dedicated to developing public speaking skills, it takes no more than five seconds to establish proper contact. Five seconds is usually the time it takes to finish a thought, so there’s minimal risk of losing your focus if you follow this tip. This can also help you slow down your speaking rate.

4. Avert your eyes when a person grows uncomfortable

Not everyone appreciates being looked at directly in the eye. While it’s true that eye contact is a universal communication signal, there are certain exceptions that you should consider. Some cultures and norms find eye contact offensive under certain circumstances.

5. Prepare your presentation more

Most speakers look to the ceiling or floor when struggling to find the right words to explain a thought. If you do this for long periods of time, you risk disconnecting from your audience.  Better preparation  means you spend more energy and focus talking, and less time thinking of what to say.

6. Ensure eye contact as you deliver all critical lines

Nobody expects you to sustain eye contact for an entire 30 minute presentation. However, be sure to highlight key points with strong eye contact. This includes  your opening , your closing, and all other critical lines throughout. If you combine this with expressing emotion, the impact of your words will be much stronger.

7. Meet audience members before the presentation starts

Most speakers have poor eye contact at the beginning of their presentation, improving only as the audience begins to engage with the presentation. This is natural for humans – it’s hard to connect immediately with total strangers.

A good tip is to meet as many of them as possible before your presentation begins by greeting people at the entrance. By the time you start speaking, at least some of them will be on your side.

Practice your Eye Contact

Build rapport and develop a better connection with your audience by improving your eye contact. Learn More

Note: Cultural differences in eye contact

Keep in mind that the length of eye contact  varies by culture . Some cultures use eye contact more than others. If you’re giving a presentation in a culture other than your own, make sure you investigate the cultural norms and behaviour of the people in your audience.

For example, in Middle Eastern cultures, it’s considered inappropriate for people of the opposite sex to look each other in the eye, as that can denote a romantic interest between them. In Asian cultures, however, eye contact is seen more as a sign of disrespect, especially when the contact is made by a subordinate to his or her superior. This is because most Asian countries are largely authoritarian.

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Presentation Tips: How to Use Eye Contact

Are you capitalising on the simplest way to boost the impact of your presentations?

Presentation Tips: How to Use Eye Contact for Connection

No advice on presentation tips would be complete without the importance of eye contact . Watching a presenter reading their notes aloud or talking to their slides can diminish your interest in a subject, and can even make you feel like you don’t really need to be there.

Eye contact aids communication because it creates a direct connection. Without it, communication becomes harder and has less impact. Eye contact keeps people awake .

There are hundreds of articles on the benefits of making eye contact during presentations. As one of the most fundamental presentation tips , eye contact helps you convey subjects with authority, and makes audience members feel like participants rather than observers.

Eye contact also improves your concentration and eases anxiety because it reminds you that audience members are individuals like yourself rather than a faceless group of critics.

There are fewer articles on how to use eye contact, so here are some simple presentation tips that will improve the way you connect with audiences. They reinforce our seven laws of presentation skills .

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Keep Your Eyes on the Move

As you present, make eye contact with as many members of the audience as possible. With larger audiences, try to make eye contact with everyone at least once. With smaller audiences, try to balance the level of eye contact between participants. By doing so, your audience will feel that you are addressing them as individuals and that your messages are personal.

Aim for Three to Five Seconds

Ideally, stick to between three to five seconds of eye contact before moving on to the next person. However, avoid counting the seconds in your mind as this can break your concentration, which may diminish your presentation performance .

As with all presentation tips, practice is essential. When you run through the presentation on your own, move your eyes every three to five seconds to look at a different point in the room. This will help to make eye contact an organic part of your authentic presentation style .

Naturally, bear in mind that there are a few situations where you need to lock eye contact for longer. For example, when listening to someone’s question or while asking them a follow-up question.

Keep the Rhythm

Regularly switch eye contact with different members of the audience so no one feels singled out by lengthy periods of staring. Even when referencing the work of someone in the room, you only need to catch their eye as you begin to mention them, before moving on to connect with others.

Eye contact also goes hand in hand with another extremely valuable presentation training technique: The Well-Timed Pause .

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Keep it Random

Make your moment-to-moment targets for eye contact seem perfectly natural rather than a systematic pattern. A useful acting technique is to mentally split the audience into three groups from left to right. For example, you might look ‘audience left’ for a bit to make eye contact with two or three people. Then look ‘audience right’ and make eye contact with two or three more, before focusing on ‘audience centre.’

If you are standing, then move around the speaking area to make your eye contact look even more organic. Moving while you speak is one of our top presentation tips for Speaking with Confidence .

Observe Reactions

Another key benefit of eye contact is that it lets you see how the audience is reacting to what you say. Although they are sitting still and silently, look for nods, frowns, and anyone who seems a little confused or bored.

Using eye contact to gauge reactions gives you the opportunity to tailor your presentation to the audience, such as explaining a point in greater detail than you originally intended.

Answer Questions to the Room

When answering questions, never run the risk of the rest of the audience feeling left out. Lock eyes with the person as they ask their question, and then deliver your answer to the room so everyone gains the benefit of the knowledge.

It also helps to repeat the question back to the room before you answer, which ensures everyone understands the context. This is just one of our valuable presentation techniques that will help you host a perfect Q&A session .

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Five Tips & Techniques to Improve Eye Contact in Presentations and Speeches

• August 3, 2023
• Kevin Lerner

Improving your eye contact during a speech is a valuable skill that can enhance your communication and connection with the audience. It involves looking into the eyes of the listeners to establish a connection, engage their attention, and effectively communicate the message and there are many benefits . This article highlights Five Tips & Techniques to Improve Eye Contact in Presentations and Speeches.

1) Practice with a mirror or video recording

Set up a mirror or use a video recording device to practice your speech while maintaining eye contact. Watch yourself and observe how you engage with your own eyes. Take note of any tendencies to look away or avoid eye contact, and consciously work on improving those areas.

2) Start with friendly faces

Identify a few friendly and receptive faces in the audience before your speech begins. During your presentation, periodically make eye contact with these individuals. It will help you feel more at ease and create a positive feedback loop as you receive nonverbal cues of encouragement.

3) Scan the audience

Instead of fixating on a single individual, make a conscious effort to scan the room and make eye contact with different individuals throughout your speech. Try to connect with people in different sections of the audience, ensuring everyone feels included and engaged.

4) Use the “triangle technique”

Divide the audience into three sections—left, center, and right. Alternate your gaze between these three sections, creating a triangle pattern. This technique helps you evenly distribute your eye contact, ensuring that different parts of the audience feel connected and engaged.

5) Pause and hold eye contact

When you make eye contact with someone, pause for a brief moment to hold that connection before moving on. This allows the person to feel acknowledged and heard, and it gives you an opportunity to convey your message effectively through nonverbal cues. Aim to hold eye contact for 2-3 seconds before transitioning to the next person.

Remember, improving eye contact takes practice and time. Start by implementing these techniques in smaller settings, such as during conversations or presentations with a smaller group, before applying them to larger audiences. With consistent practice, you will gradually develop more confidence and comfort in maintaining eye contact during your speeches.

audience , better eye contact , eye contact , Presentation Skills

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Connecting With Eye Contact

When we talk about effective presentation skills , it’s the ‘speaking’ part that comes to mind first. And it only makes sense: it’s not much of a presentation if you don’t say anything! But did you know that aside from your voice, it’s your eyes that are your most powerful communication tool?

Connect and Hold Your Audiences Attention

Eye contact is a critical component of public speaking. Why? Because your eyes are what you use to engage you listeners—to make your presentation personal in a way that makes the listener think you are speaking directly to them. When you engage in a conversation with someone, you look that person in the eye, don’t you? Whether you’re speaking to a single person or a room full of people, the overall desire of the listener remains the same: to feel important, to feel involved in the conversation, and to feel a personal connection. Only when your audience feels that way will you be able to connect with them and hold their attention.

Eye Contact Includes the Audience in the Conversation

Public speaking is nothing more than amplified conversation. You want your audience to feel included in the conversation and the single most effective way to do that is to establish eye contact.

Here’s the thing: Your eyes serve as control devices. When you look at someone, you influence their attentiveness. They will concentrate on you because your gaze indicates you are concentrating on them. Similarly, if you fail to look at the listener, chances are good the listener will not be looking at you (and probably not listening, either).

So how can you effectively use eye contact in your presentations? Here are a few guidelines:

Use the 90-percent rule.

Your goal is to maintain eye contact with the members of your audience at least 90 percent of the time. Don’t let yourself get distracted by your own slide or Power Point presentation (if you’re using one) and don’t let your eyes wander away from the audience as you try to recall the next point in your presentation. Keep looking at your audience and they’ll keep looking at you.

 Hold someone’s gaze.

Remember a public presentation is no different than a one-on-one conversation except for the fact there are more than two people involved. For that reason, be sure to make eye contact with as many people as you can during the course of your presentation. Don’t just scan the crowd—stop and make meaningful eye contact and hold each person’s gaze for as much as 3 or 5 seconds and then move on to someone else and do the same thing.

Tap a large crowd’s ‘sweet spot.

Break the group up into quadrants and speak to one person at a time in each section. Focusing on the people in the center of the group, approximately two-thirds of the way back, is ideal in situations where you are addressing a large group. By looking there, much of the audience will think you are looking directly at them. Periodically, focus on someone in the front row and along the sides to avoid looking mechanical.

Know your material so you don’t have to keep looking down at your notes.

There’s nothing wrong with jotting down a few ideas and reminders to guide you through your presentation, but nothing kills a presentation faster than watching a speaker read from his notes. Be prepared—know your message—so that you can actually time when and how often you glance at your notes. Take advantage of natural pauses in the presentation to take a quick peek at your notes while the audience is momentarily distracted.

Take advantage of visual feedback.

Just as your audience responds to the non-verbal messages you send while delivering a presentation, so do they send their own back to you. Look around at the people in the audience. Are they looking at you? Are they frowning at you? As you speak, you need to be able to monitor and have your thumb on the pulse of the group, and be able to respond accordingly to the feedback you are being given by your audience. If they are not looking at you, if they are fidgeting, or if their facial expressions show they are puzzled by what you are saying, you need to figure out why that’s happening and find a way to remedy it as you move through your presentation. Maybe you are fidgeting as you speak, or you’ve said something they don’t understand. Pick up on their non-verbal cues.

Like any other public speaking technique, eye contact is very important and using it effectively takes practice. Don’t let the message you’re trying to promote suffer because you didn’t take the effort to really connect with your audience. And the single biggest way to do that is through good eye contact. Give it a shot at your next public speaking event . You might be surprised at just how important it is and how the effective use of eye contact makes the difference.

Have you ever been to a presentation where the speaker didn’t make eye contact? How did it make you feel? Tell us in the comments and share this post with colleagues that will find it useful!

23 Comments

I know I need to make better eye contact in my presentations. Thanks for some really good suggestions I will try to implement in my next talk.

In my experience giving presentations and speeches I have found that eye contact is one of the most key factors. Not only does it show confidence, but it also makes the audience feel and hear your words better because it makes it seem as if you are speaking directly to them. It is definitely a important park of public speaking!

I like the fact that when you have good eye contact it includes the listener in your conversation. I am going to have more one on one conversations with the groups of people I speak to. i will definitely be more aware of my eye contact for my next presentation!

When I am interviewing someone and they have good eye contact, it show that they are very confident in their abilities. I wouldn’t hire someone who couldn’t hold eye contact with me.

Yes eye contact is actually the best way for showing your confidence and abilities to interviewers. Without that you will get failed on interviews ..

I’m a beginner when it comes to public speaking but I do try to look at the center of the group when addressing decent sized groups. I pick someone and stay on them for 2-3 phrases, sometimes even asking them a direct question. Asking questions livens up the room and makes people think so I try to use this all the time.

This is something I know I have to work on. I struggle in day to day activities with eye contact, even with people I know. I am not sure why. I know it is very important to make this connection with your audience though so I am working on it. I will definitely use your advice thanks!! 

Good eye contact takes a lot of practice but it’s worth it. I definitely recognize good eye contact in the presentations I sit in on.

Holding eye contact for a few seconds always makes me squirm a little. It probably feels much longer for me than for the person who I’m looking at!

Love this blog.

Good eye contact is important anytime, so it makes sense that it’s an important skill of a public speaker.

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Hello there!

My name is Brenda. I am interested in learning more about how to use effective eye contact. When I hold eye contact with individuals its pretty easy but when I am speaking in front of a large group I tent to scan and never look at anyone in the room. This article you provided will help me. I am also registering for your two day presentation training in Orange County, CA Best regards, Brenda Chambers

Valuable content. Maintaining eye contact with your audience shows that you’re confident and honest. Avoiding eye contact says the opposite.

Like you pointed out, it’s a great way to recognize some immediate non-verbal feedback from your audience and respond accordingly. For instance, if someone looks puzzled, you can explain the point further.

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8 presentation tips to make your eye contact more powerful

by Olivia Mitchell | 20 comments

But the term eye contact is rather vague. It can infer just making fleeting “contact” with a person then moving on. Don’t make eye contact – make “eye connection”.  Eye connection means spending time with each person so that person feels like you’re just talking to them. Eye connection has two major benefits:

• People in your audience will feel that you have genuinely connected with them and that you care about their reaction.
• Because you’re talking to people as if you were in a one-on-one conversation, you’ll come across as conversational. That makes you easy to listen to and engaging.

Here are my tips on how to make eye connection:

1. See people

A lot of people we work with confess that they don’t really see individual people in their audience. They’re just aware of a blur of faces. If you can relate to this, next time you present, experiment with seeing people. Look at their facial expressions, look for their reactions to what you’re saying. We call this ‘listening to your audience.”

2. Shrink the room

Imagine that the person you’re looking at is the only person in the room. For those few seconds you’re having a one-on-one conversation with just that person. This has two benefits. You’re likely to talk in a more conversational style because you’re drawing on the conversational skills you already have. It may also reduce your nervousness because you’ll no longer feel like you’re talking to this big audience – but just to one person.

3. Find out how long it takes to make genuine eye connection

It can be difficult to judge how much time is enough to make eye connection. And you may be concerned that if you spend too much time with one person they’ll start to feel uncomfortable. To find out how long it takes, gather together a few friends and deliver your presentation. Ask each person to rest their elbow on the table and raise their hand (resting the elbow is so that their arm doesn’t get too tired). Ask them to drop their hand when they feel you’ve made eye connection with them. You’re likely to find that the length of time needed to make that eye connection is longer than you think.

4. Move to another person at an appropriate time

If you carried out the experiment above, you probably found that your friends dropped their hands at the end of your sentences. That’s also an appropriate time to move onto another person. By doing this you’re adding “formatting”. In a written document there’s punctuation, paragraphs, and headings to guide the reader. In a presentation, the presenter adds the formatting by the way they deliver. The movement of your eyes is one way to add verbal formatting.

Note: If you tend to talk in long sentences, you may find that making eye connection with one person for a whole sentence is too long. If that’s the case, move to another person at the end of a phrase. (And work on making your sentences shorter – that will make it easier for your audience to digest what you’re saying.)

5. Look for the reaction

After important points look for the person’s reaction to what you’ve just said. If the person feels like you’ve been talking to them, they’ll nod. People nod when they’ve processed what you’ve just said. “Waiting for the nod” is an effective way of pacing your delivery to the rate at which your audience can take it in.

6. Keep your eyes up at the end

The most powerful time to have your eyes up is at the end of a sentence. Unfortunately, it’s also the time when you’ll be most tempted to drop your eyes so that you can look at your notes. Discipline yourself to keep your eyes up till you’ve finished your sentence, then look down. Look at your notes in silence. When you’re ready to continue, look up, find someone to talk to and then start talking.

7. Don’t be a lighthouse or a tennis umpire

A lighthouse presenter goes systematically around the room. A tennis umpire presenters looks first to the left, then to the right. Mix it up – be random!

8. Respect people who are uncomfortable

Some people in your audience may show that they’re uncomfortable with eye connection by looking away. Different cultures have different norms regarding eye connection. Respect that by spending less eye connection time with them – but don’t ignore them!

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20 Comments

Very good points. However, when I coach, I run into those who just can’t look people in the eyes. I have taught them to look at foreheads. It has worked great. The audience still thinks the speaker is looking at them. Other rules above, such as #7, still apply.

Yes, there are people for whom any sort of eye contact is uncomfortable. Often this involves cultural factors. For example in my part of the world (New Zealand)older Pacific Islanders have difficulty with making eye contact. In that situation, looking at people’s foreheads is a last resort alternative.

However, if I’m working one-on-one with someone who has trouble making eye connection, I will work with them to gradually have them feel more comfortable with it. For example, I’ll ask them to just glance at me as they’re talking with me. Then once they’re OK with that, I’ll get them to look at me for a second – and so on.

If you’re reading this and you know you have trouble looking at people, choose to work on this. Practice making eye contact in your everyday interactions with people. Then progress to eye connection. It will make a huge positive difference in the way that people perceive you.

Hello Tripp – I was previously told when presenting to look just above peoples heads. This may be beneficial if nervous at the start of the pitch but I am not sure it really connects with people. I have worked to avoid doing this now.

I’m amazed how many people have been taught to scan instead of truly connect. I love the way you put it as a lighthouse or tennis umpire. I’ve found when you can get a presenter to slow down and connect with an individual for an entire thought (through the end of a sentence), it not only reduces their nerves, but it instantly changes their tone from formal presentation to more conversational. Great post. Thanks.

Yes, it’s magical what a difference that change can make, Olivia.

This is great advice on eye contact, which highlights that everyone knows it’s important but everyone doesn’t know the nuances and the range of options for doing it effectively. I particularly like #2, as I think once a presenter can really think about their audience as individual human beings, rather than just a big blob of people, it makes such a difference in attitude, tone and manner.

Thanks Kathy.

I really agree with Kathy. I know that all of these things are great tools for becoming conscious of connection, but in the end it’s the connection you need, not the ability to make it LOOK like you are connected. One reason people aren’t connected with their audience is that they are too self-conscious and too worried about what other people are thinking about them, the speaker. Would love to hear some discussion on how to get beyond that one from your experience.

“Make eye contact with your audience” has got to be the simplest advice that is so easy to screw up.

“Don’t make eye contact – make eye connection.” Olivia, that’s a perfectly succinct way to highlight your key message here!

I can’t wait to try out these tips in my next presentation.

I really need this contact in my life, but it doesn’t work with me. Thank you for these tips I’ll try to apply them! regards.

I completely agree. I love that you are promoting genuine eye contact rather than “lip service” eye contact. As a fellow public-speaking trainer I find that this is the single thing that makes the biggest difference in terms of making a real connection with an audience and in terms of making the speaker feel safe (there’s some interesting research on this I can let you have if you’re interested – or you can check out the piece that I’ve just written about it on my blog).

Very valuable, especially about 2. Shrink the room, so please add me in your communication note in future for Presentation topic, thanks.

Thanks for this nicely written Article !! I have the same problem of not making making eye-contact. Let me tell you sth about me . I am good person at heart. People love myself being around them. I somehow manage interacting people who are my friends and I am very frank to them . Even if I do not make I contact properly , I do manage it with my happy mood, smiling face and speaking appropriately. But when it comes to stranger or anybody of higher authority I cant manage this. I tell you one incident. Few days back I needed to talk to my manager with few people around. He is good funny and lively person. When I went talk to him I was not able to make eye contact with him. Result was , although he know I am a good person , he seemed to have lost interest (or say belieive ) in what I was saying. With his expression I myself felt like I am lying to him.That was embarrassing to me. So I kept wiping my face and forehead to hide my embarrasment. I know that was not a good thing to do.But I was clueless . I felt that sometimes , people who take their time out to devote concentration to listen to me gets irritated with this. Thats obvious for them to do this , but this leaves me feel embarrassed. You can say that I am shy kind of personality.Can you help ? I want to conquer this.

It’s funny when I read the tips I pictured myself in presentations and recalling what I had done in the past..haha..Great tips.

If i make an eye contact with my friends in my class seminar, they make me laugh. What should i do to not to laugh on the stage?

Thank you for this post. It is needed now in 2019 more than ever as we spend more and more time focused on our devices, even while someone is speaking. We will definitely be touching on this with our students.

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Funny thing is, when I read the advice, I saw myself giving presentations and thinking back to things I had previously done.Great advice. Rainbow Friends

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• Public Speaking Tips and Techniques [2009-12-05] - [...] Mitchell lists 8 tips to make your eye contact more powerful. A lot of people we work with confess…
• Gesti, spazi, sguardi. Il corpo e il public speaking « Presentazioni Efficaci - [...] dedicato ad un aspetto chiave del public speaking, ovvero il contatto oculare. Olivia Mitchell dà 8 consigli per migliorare…
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8 Ways Eye Contact Can Make or Break Your Presentation

presentation

public speaking

public speaking tips

Feb 12, 2018

“When you are first introduced to people, looking them in the eye or avoiding their gaze will send an instant message,” says an article published in Research Digest titled. Initiating eye connection is a universal premise in public speaking—it ignites a connection between the speaker and the audience. It is the key to coalescing your core message and excellent delivery. As a presenter, your main goal is to clearly convey a message to your spectators. Whether your presentation tackles business proposals, client projects, or branding strategies, your sole purpose is to turn spectators into customers and engage clients for investments . To do this, you must delve deep into details and begin with an indispensable speaking mantra: eye contact.

Eye Contact During a Presentation

The eyes are the windows to one’s soul. It bears the integrity of your intentions and the authenticity of the subliminal messages you cascade. In hindsight, eye contact establishes an invitation to mentally connect with another person. As a speaker, you must meet your audience’s gaze to show a need to engage while presenting. Furthermore, establishing eye contact helps you retain your composure while speaking. As you roam your eyes erratically, more visual signals are sent to your brain, which slows it down. Keep in mind that your stance substantiates your authority as a speaker. Stuttering, being lost in thought, and stopping mid-sentence are major no-no’s. These cases devalue your identity as a presenter.

Strengthening the Connection

Calling it “eye contact” can just mean “meeting of the eye” rather than having a genuine connection. To appear warmer, avoid making a superficial look, and initiate an “eye connection” instead. Eye connection means spending more time enthralling each person in the room as if you’re personally talking to them. By establishing a brief but engaging connection, your spectators would perceive intentionality as you speak. You’d also avoid sounding too technical thus creating a conversational and engaging atmosphere. Check the infographic below to learn the other pros and cons of eye contact during presentations.

Wyeth, Sims. “10 Reasons Eye Contact Is Everything in Public Speaking.” Inc. June 18, 2014. www.inc.com/sims-wyeth/10-reasons-why-eye-contact-can-change-peoples-perception-of-you.html Jarett, Christian. “The Psychology of Eye Contact, Digested.” Research Digest. November 28, 2016. digest.bps.org.uk/2016/11/28/the-psychology-of-eye-contact-digested “Eye Contact During a Presentation.” Syntaxis. n.d. www.syntaxis.com/eye-contact-during-a-presentation

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A division of bold new directions training, tips for making eye contact with your audience while you speak.

Engaging your audience during a presentation is no small feat, but there is one simple thing you can do to enhance your impact as a speaker: sustained, meaningful eye contact with your audience. Positive eye contact allows you to connect with your audience on a personal level. It also allows you to build rapport with your audience to keep them engaged in the presentation. Here are a few tips for improving eye contact during your next presentation. 

Look Before You Speak

Before the first words come out of your mouth, take a moment to pause and look around the room. A simple smile can help you connect with listeners and will make you feel more comfortable and confident when you begin speaking. 

Involve Everyone in the Presentation

The key is to connect with as many people as possible. All too often, presenters look straight ahead and never actually acknowledge the audience members on either side of them or directly in front of them. This can make your eye contact appear forced and unnatural. While it’s impossible to make eye contact with every person in the room, you should try to connect with audience members in each section of the room. 

Sustain Eye Contact 

It’s not enough to quickly scan across the crowd or stare blankly at the wall in the back of the room. Effective eye contact means looking directly at someone long enough to make a connection. According to researchers, it takes no more than five seconds to establish proper and meaningful eye contact with someone. Make it a point to pause and sustain eye contact for a few seconds with the audience member so you have time to make that connection with them. 

Know When to Avert Your Eyes

While it’s true that eye contact helps you deliver a more meaningful presentation, not everyone , enjoys having someone look them directly in the eye. If you notice the audience member squirming or looking away, be sure and avert your attention somewhere else. 

Be Prepared

Many presenters fail to make appropriate eye contact because they are fumbling through their notes or reading their slides to find the right words to explain a thought. If you look at your notes for too long, you risk losing that connection with your audience. Therefore, practice and prepare so you can look to your audience rather than your notes while presenting. 

Always Make Eye Contact During Critical Lines

It’s not practical to make eye contact during your entire presentation, but you must be sure and highlight your key points with strong eye contact. This includes your opening, closing, and any other critical lines throughout the presentation. Your words will be more impactful and your audience will remember what you say if you make eye contact during these important moments.

The Power of Eye Contact in Presentations: Building Trust and Confidence

Eye contact is a fundamental element of effective communication, particularly in presentations and public speaking engagements. It's not just a simple gaze; it's a powerful tool that can convey your confidence, establish connections, and build trust with your audience. 

In this article, we will talk about the relationship between eye contact and confidence, offering insights and practical strategies to harness this dynamic duo to your advantage during presentations..

What is Eye Contact?

Let's begin with the basics: Eye contact is the act of making visual connections with your audience by meeting their eyes. This fundamental aspect of nonverbal communication is not to be underestimated. Eye contact is a universal language that transcends words and can express emotions, sincerity, and engagement 

Why is Eye Contact Important in Presentations?

Eye contact is the silent language of confidence, in presentations it is important because it serves as a nonverbal cue that tells your audience a lot about you as a presenter. When you maintain proper eye contact, it communicates confidence, credibility, and engagement. It shows that you are not just speaking to a crowd but connecting with individuals. This connection fosters trust and makes your message more persuasive.

How to Make Good Eye Contact During a Presentation

Now, let's get practical. How can you make good eye contact during a presentation? Here are some tips:

• Scan the Audience : Start by scanning the room, and making brief eye contact with different individuals. This creates a sense of inclusion and engagement.
• Connect with Individuals : While scanning is essential, don't forget to connect with specific audience members. Hold eye contact for a few seconds, allowing them to feel personally engaged.
• Use Gestures : Combine eye contact with appropriate gestures in public speaking . This enhances your message and reinforces your connection with the audience.
• Avoid Staring : While maintaining eye contact is crucial, avoid staring intensely, which can make others uncomfortable. Instead, employ a friendly and natural gaze.
• Practice : Practice your presentation with a friend or in front of a mirror to refine your eye contact skills.

Common Eye Contact Mistakes to Avoid

While eye contact is essential, making mistakes can hinder effective communication. Avoiding eye contact entirely can make you appear disinterested or untrustworthy. On the other hand, excessive eye contact might come across as intimidating or insincere. Learning to strike the right balance is key.

Another common mistake is failing to distribute eye contact evenly across the audience. This can lead to certain individuals or sections of the audience feeling ignored or less valued. A presenter might inadvertently focus too much on the most responsive attendees or those sitting directly in front, neglecting others. 

To counteract this, consciously make an effort to engage with all areas of the room, including those who may be sitting off to the sides or in the back. This inclusive approach ensures that every member of the audience feels acknowledged and engaged, contributing to a more effective and equitable communication experience.

Overcoming Public Speaking Anxiety with Eye Contact

Public speaking anxiety is a common issue, but eye contact can help you overcome it. When you make eye contact, you're not just speaking to a crowd; you're having a one-on-one conversation with your audience. This shift in perspective can reduce anxiety and boost your confidence.

Furthermore, practicing it in lower-stakes situations can build your comfort and proficiency with this skill, making it a natural part of your public speaking toolkit. Start by integrating direct eye contact into daily conversations with friends, family, and colleagues. As you become more accustomed to maintaining eye contact during these interactions, you'll find it easier to employ the same technique in larger, more formal settings. 

This gradual build-up will not only enhance your ability to connect with individuals but also transform how you perceive the act of public speaking itself, shifting it from a source of anxiety to an opportunity for genuine connection.

Incorporating Technology: Teleprompter App Presentations

In an era of digital tools, teleprompter apps have become indispensable aids for presenters. These apps assist you in maintaining eye contact with your audience while keeping your speech on track. By displaying your script or notes on a screen in front of you, you can seamlessly glance at your content while appearing to maintain eye contact with your audience. 

In summary, eye contact is more than just a gaze; it's a powerful tool that can enhance your presentations. It conveys confidence, establishes connections, and fosters trust with your audience. By understanding the science behind it and avoiding common mistakes, you can harness the power of eye contact to become a more effective and engaging presenter. Whether in person or online, mastering this skill is essential for any communicator.

Ready to elevate your presentation skills with the power of technology? Download the app today and transform how you connect with your audience.

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