It’s normal to not know where to look during a public speech. After all, there are a lot of eyes on you and it can be intimidating. The best thing to do is to use the “three-second method” where you look at someone for three seconds then move on to someone else.
Making eye contact is important to establishing a connection with someone, but it can also help you gauge your progress. This will help you engage with the audience and not get lost in your thoughts.You can tell if someone is interested, confused or bored by their expressions, so you know how your message is being received.
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Importance of eye contact in public speaking
People tend to build rapport more easily with those who make eye contact, as it makes them feel included and heard. In other words, making eye contact during a presentation helps get your message across on a personal level.
Eye contact is key for a successful presentation. Here are the benefits of maintaining eye contact and how you can improve yours:
1. Makes You Look Confident
When you make eye contact, it shows that you are confident in what you’re saying. Sustained eye contact is key to appearing authoritative. People are less likely to trust your message or agree with you if you can’t look them in the eye.
2. Builds a Connection With Your Audience
By looking directly into the eyes of your audience, you show them how much their opinion means to you. Keeping eye contact shows that you want to create a conversation, rather than simply give a monologue. This connection is beneficial for both the speaker and listener.
3. Increases Concentration
Being in a room with lots of people, different lights, and numerous sounds can be very overwhelming. Making eye contact with different audience members will help you feel more confident and clear headed. Keep your gaze steady so you can focus on what you’re saying and try not to get distracted by other things going on around you.
These are just some of the benefits of making eye contact during a presentation. So, the next time you’re asked to give a speech, remember to focus on making that connection with your audience!
Tips To Improve Eye Contact in Public Speaking
There are a few key things to keep in mind when trying to improve your eye contact while public speaking:
1. Maintain Eye Contact While Delivering All Crucial Lines
Although you don’t have to make eye contact the entire time, it is important that you do so during key points of your presentation. Not only will your words hold more weight if you express emotion, but they’ll also be far more impactful.
2. Think of Your Audiences as Individual Listeners
Imagining your audience as a group of individuals will help you focus on making eye contact with each person. Try to make a connection with every single person in the room, rather than thinking of them as one mass entity because that will only make you feel more overwhelmed.
3. Maintain Eye Contact Long Enough to Establish a Rapport Before Moving On
When you make eye contact with someone, hold their gaze for a few seconds before moving on to someone else. In addition to helping establish rapport, this will also help ensure that your message is getting across.
These are just some tips to help you improve your eye contact while public speaking. By following these tips, you’ll be able to better connect with your audience and deliver a more impactful presentation with the art of eye contact!
Final Thoughts
There are some speakers who prefer not to make eye contact with their audience, and that’s okay! If you don’t feel comfortable making eye contact, then don’t force yourself to do it. You can stare on people’s forehead or make sure that you’re looking at different parts of the room so that everyone feels included. The most important thing is that you deliver your message in a way that is authentic to you.
