Why eye contact is powerful in public speaking lies in its ability to build trust, confidence and meaningful audience connection.
It is rightly said, “Eye contact is a dangerous, dangerous thing. But lovely. Oh, so lovely.” This is indeed true.
Have you ever thought about eye contact as a skill? As adults, using appropriate eye contact can sometimes be difficult. What about youth? Eye contact is connected to multiple life skills, and it is very important for young people to practise and learn it as an essential communication skill. Consider, for a moment, how eye contact can be used to show empathy, concern for others, manage feelings, and enhance communication.
It is important to know how to begin making eye contact with your audience. Starting well is the key to success. As the famous quote says, “Every day is a fresh start, a blank canvas to paint upon.” First, look in the general direction of your audience. Begin at one end of the room, covering those seated at the sides and the back row, and return to your starting point. Then look diagonally towards the second-to-last row, cover that section, and once again move diagonally towards the front. Once you have done this, you have technically covered the entire audience.
After this, try to establish direct eye contact. Look into their eyes. Mentally divide the audience into smaller groups and connect with each member of these groups through your gaze. Continue this process until you conclude your talk.
Vital tips on how to improve eye contact include:
- See your audience as individual listeners:
Before you begin speaking, pause and scan the room for friendly faces. Connect with listeners who seem engaged and focus on one person at a time. You will appear more conversational and confident. - Involve everyone in the conversation:
Connect with as many people as possible. If the audience is large, divide it into sections and choose one person from each group to focus on. Avoid following a strict pattern, as it may seem unnatural. As it is rightly said, “Say it all with your eyes.” - Sustain eye contact long enough to make a connection, then move on:
Five to eight seconds is usually enough to establish meaningful contact. This is often the time it takes to complete a thought, so it helps maintain focus while also slowing down your speaking pace.
Establishing rapport with your audience is essential. Do not plunge directly into your content. First, build a small connection with your listeners; it truly helps. If making eye contact makes you nervous, look slightly above a person’s head or between their eyes to help yourself relax.
Always remember, eyes can be powerful public speaking tools if used effectively.
Practise your presentation with a small group of friends. Ask them to let you know when they feel you have made eye contact with them. This skill is challenging to master because you want to create a connection without making anyone uncomfortable.
Avoid being monotonous. Add variety to your presentation. Do not move your gaze around the room in a predictable, systematic way like a lighthouse.
The importance of speaking eye to eye with your listener cannot be overstated. It is difficult to trust someone who does not look you in the eye. However, many speakers who believe they are making eye contact often fall short of its true purpose and meaning.
About the writer:
Minoo Jokhi is a fun-loving mathemagician and memory trainer based in Mumbai, India. He teaches people from age 4 to 80 how to boost their memory and proves that memory isn’t something you’re just born with, it’s something you can actually train.
If you’d like to get in touch, you can email him at minoojokhi@rediffmail.com or check out his work at minoojokhi.in
Disclaimer: All views and opinions expressed in The Brew Opinion – our opinion section – are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of TheBrewNews.com, the company, or any of its members.
