Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: How to Make Eye Contact
• Method 2 of 3: How to speak to an audience
• Method 3 of 3: Practice Eye Contact
• Tips
• A warning

Making eye contact with someone is not always easy, especially if you are shy or nervous. However, good eye contact helps to grab the audience's attention and gain the confidence of the other person. Even if it is not so easy for you, believe me, you can achieve a positive result if you practice this valuable skill.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: How to Make Eye Contact

1. 1 Turn your head and shoulders so that it is comfortable for you to look the other person in the eye. This position of the body will show the person that you are open to communication with him, ready to speak and listen. It will also make it easier for you to look into the person's eyes. Stay at a sufficient distance from the person when communicating with him.
2. 2 Pick a point on the person's face where you can fix your gaze. This point can be a person's eye, but if you are uncomfortable, you can look between the eyes, select a point above or below their eye, or on the earlobe.
3. 3 Make eye contact with a calm look. When making eye contact with the person you are talking to, imagine that you are looking at a painting or a beautiful corner of nature. You shouldn't try to look into a person's eyes. Instead, look at the person calmly. Don't look around. Relax, breathe slowly, look at the person calmly, and nod when they tell you something.
4. 4 Look away from the other person for short moments every 5-15 seconds. If you look too closely at a person, he is unlikely to like it. Although you don't need to count the seconds, take your eyes off the other person's eyes from time to time for a few seconds. This will keep your conversation light and relaxed. You can use the following methods:
   • laugh, nod, and agree with the other person;
   • look at the sky / assess the weather;
   • look away, pretending to remember something;
   • run your hands through your hair.

Method 2 of 3: How to speak to an audience

1. 1 Look ahead above the audience. You won't be able to connect with every person in the audience, so don't even try! Look forward, fixing your gaze 3–5 cm above the listeners' heads. Don't focus your gaze on a specific person.
   • If you are speaking from a podium or standing on a platform, keep your gaze in the center of the audience without focusing on one particular person.
2. 2 Move your gaze every few sentences. You shouldn't be looking straight ahead all the time when you speak. Turn your head from time to time when performing. Divide the audience visually into multiple sections. Periodically shift your gaze from one section to another. By doing this, you will show your attention to all the listeners.
3. 3 Alternatively, try choosing 4–5 people to look at when you speak. It will be easier for you to do this if familiar people are present in the audience. You will be able to calmly look at them as if you were giving a talk at school. Move your gaze every 10-15 seconds.
4. 4 Move your gaze from person to person in small groups. If you keep your gaze on one person all the time, the rest of the audience is unlikely to like it. As you speak, look into each person's eyes for 5-10 seconds before moving your gaze to the other listener.
   • This advice is best applied to groups of 3-5 people.
5. 5 Make eye contact with the speaking person in the audience. Thanks to this, he will see that you are listening to him carefully and his words are very important to you. Your interlocutor will not feel awkward.

Method 3 of 3: Practice Eye Contact

1. 1 Make a conscious effort to make eye contact with the person. Don't force yourself to look everyone in the eye if you feel uncomfortable. Start slowly, each time reminding yourself to make eye contact with the other person.
   • It is easier to practice this skill when you are listening to the person rather than talking to them.
2. 2 Make “contact with the whole face” of the person for a more natural look in their eyes. Smile and nod, fixing your gaze on the eyes, nose, and lips of the other person. When you speak, remember that you do not need to look the person in the eye all the time. From time to time, shift your gaze and change your facial expression.
3. 3 Practice in front of a TV screen, webcam, or mirror. If you find it difficult to make eye contact with people, you can hone your skill in front of a mirror or TV screen. Try making eye contact with every character in your favorite movie or show. A news program where the host looks directly into the camera is a great way to learn how to make eye contact.
4. 4 Identify situations where it is imperative to make eye contact. By maintaining eye contact, we express trust, reliability and openness. In addition, it helps in a wide variety of social situations. Remember, in some situations, you just can't do without eye contact:
   • Job interview: Good eye contact will show the future boss that you can be trusted. Remember to look the interviewer in the eye as this will show them that you know what you are talking about.
   • Date: Eye contact can help you establish a close bond with the person. However, under these circumstances, it is difficult to look away from the person you like. You can look at your lover for longer to show the depth of your feelings.
   • Dispute: Eye contact is a sign of confidence and strength. Look at your interlocutor for a long time so that you do not seem weak or insecure to him.

Tips

• Be confident in yourself! The more you believe in yourself, the easier it will be for you to make eye contact in practice.
• Practice makes perfect! Until you get used to it, you can make eye contact with someone you know and trust. Your parents, siblings, and even your cat can help with this!
• Do not overdo it! Normal eye contact consists of eye contact for 30% of the conversation and the rest of the time in other directions. Eye contact for 60% of the conversation is a sign of interest or aggression.
• Eye contact will make the other person think that you are being very polite and listening carefully.

A warning

• Corresponding eye contact levels vary from culture to culture. For example, in many East Asian cultures it is considered indecent to make eye contact with someone who is your authority. In this context, people from Asia living in the United States or Europe are probably less likely to make eye contact than people from Western countries, and therefore are perceived as shy or unreliable.