The Power of Eye Contact

The Power of Eye ContactWhen I was competing in speech in high school I remember one speech very clearly: The young man got up in front of the room, faced the chalkboard with his back to us and gave his entire speech in that position.

I remember being shocked. He was in a competition. What was he doing?

I believe he was not looking at us to help him deal with his nerves.

But I can tell you another thing he was doing … he was making his speech very forgettable. I have no recollection of what his topic was. All I remember was spending 10 to 15 minutes looking at the back of his suit.

Eye contact helps bring your audience into your presentation. It helps make them feel engaged and, for some, validated. It helps your audience root for you and the success of your presentation.

But eye contact also seems to make so many speakers nervous.

There are ways to get around this. You can look at people’s foreheads instead of their eyes. When you’re up on stage, your audience won’t know the difference. In more intimate settings, I recommend glancing at the bridge of people’s noses. It is closer to their eyes so, again, they won’t know the difference.

These two tricks will help alleviate the anxiety caused by looking someone in the eye, while still having your audience experience eye contact.

Another tip: Don’t stare too long, while looking in each direction long enough. Scanning the room so swiftly that you never engage anyone is just as ineffective as staring at one individual so long you make that person uncomfortable.

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About the author

Carma Spence, is author of Public Speaking Super Powers. She is fiercely committed to guiding women to Owning their Superpowers and turning their knowledge and interests into a profitable business. She is masterful at helping her clients see what is possible for them and supporting them on the journey from where they are to where they want to be, releasing the Mind Goblins of self-doubt, self-sabotage and second-guessing that keep them stuck.

With 20+ years experience in marketing communications and public relations, natural intuitive skills and certification in using some of the most effective transformational coaching tools available, Carma’s mission and commitment is to unleash the inner power every woman entrepreneur possesses so they can boldly go out into the world, transforming the fabric of people’s lives in meaningful and positive ways.

You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Her website is CarmaSpence.com.