How to Develop Eye Contact

Eye Contact is one of the ruling factors of any speech or presentation. This is because more than 50% of the information we all assimilate is Visual, it is absolutely critical that one acquires and develops the skill to use Eye Contact as one of the major tools in our presentation or speech, if we are to have any chance of success in our work or personal environment when faced with face to face negotiations. It helps in building up instant connectivity with the audience with the audience. Even a newbie at Public Speaking knows that they should make an eye contact. The term “Eye Contact”, is rather vague. It can infer just make fleeting “contact” with a person then moving on. Do not make eye contact- make “eye connection”. Eye connection means spending time with each other a person feels like you are talking just to them. People in the audience will feel that you have genuinely connected with them and that you care about their reactions.

How to develop Eye Contact

Talking to a group
When talking to a group of people, it is great to have direct eye contact with them. Do not make the mistake of maintaining eye contact with just one person, as it will stop the other member of the group from listening. To get past this, focus on a different member of the group with every new sentence. This way you are talking to all of the group and keeping them all interested.

Talking to an individual
It is great to maintain eye contact when talking to a person; however it can become a bit creepy and uncomfortable, if you stare intensely at them. To combat this, break eye contact every 5 seconds or so. When breaking eye contact, do not look down as this might indicate the ending of your part of the conversation

Arguing
Arguing with someone is a skill in itself and if you want to compete in an argument holding the gaze shows strength. If you look away when arguing with someone, you have almost lost the argument. It obviously depends on who you are arguing with but in general it is better to hold the gaze while you are making your point and also when you are listening to other people.

Notice how other people converse
In order to make your eye contact appear in a natural way, observe other people interacting. You will always find that more than 50% of exchange of information takes place only through ones eyes.

Look near the eyes
If at an initial level, making eye contact makes you feel scary, try looking at the person’s bridge (space between the eyes). It will make you feel safer. But in the long run, one needs to look straight in the eyes, to make the communication effective.

Start small
If you have been avoiding eye contact for a large amount of time till now, it is unreasonable to think that it will develop overnight. One needs to be very patient with ones own self. One has to start with small steps and gradually it will help in making a good eye contact.

Absence of Eye Contact can lower ones Self Esteem, Confidence and Attitude, which are the most essential parameters of the Body Language. We at BM bring out a different personality in you and groom you on all the aspects.