Eye contact is one of the most powerful nonverbal cues you can use to show interest and confidence in a meeting. Whether you are speaking, listening, or presenting, eye contact can help you connect with your audience, convey your message, and boost your credibility. In this article, you will learn some tips to use eye contact effectively in different meeting scenarios.
Eye contact is a form of communication that signals attention, emotion, and intention. It can also indicate your level of interest, confidence, and respect for the other person or group. In a meeting, eye contact can help you establish rapport, engage your listeners, and show your leadership. Eye contact can also help you read audience reactions and adjust your tone and pace accordingly.
Virtual meetings are TV. If your TV newscaster was not looking at the camera (where you are) you would not pay attention. ZOOM, Meet, Teams, etc are all INTIMATE events. One-on-one actually with others watching. Live or virtual, if you are not talking to one person at a time while looking at them, you will not hold your audience. Your tone also changes. These are skills mastered with a good presentation coach.
When speaking in a meeting, eye contact can help convey your message with clarity and impact. Make eye contact with everyone in the room, not just the person you are addressing or the one who asked you a question. This will demonstrate your confidence and inclusivity. Avoid staring or looking away too often, as this can make you seem nervous or impolite. Instead, aim for natural and relaxed eye contact with occasional breaks to glance at notes or slides. Utilize eye contact to emphasize key points, signal transitions, and invite questions or comments. For example, pause and look at someone directly when making a strong statement, or look around the room when transitioning to the next topic. And match your eye contact with facial expressions and body language; smile, nod, and use gestures to reinforce your words and show your sincerity.
When you are listening in a meeting, eye contact can help you demonstrate your interest and comprehension. Maintain eye contact with the speaker without staring or fixating. Use eye contact to acknowledge and encourage the speaker by nodding, smiling, or raising your eyebrows. Additionally, use eye contact to signal agreement, disagreement, or confusion. For example, if you don't understand or agree with something, look at the speaker with a puzzled or skeptical expression. Avoid looking at your phone, laptop, or watch, as this can show disinterest or disrespect. If you need to check something, explain why and do it quickly.
When presenting in a meeting, eye contact can be a powerful tool to engage and persuade your audience. Before you start, smile and greet your audience warmly, and scan the room to establish a rapport. As you speak, make eye contact with different parts of the room, not just the front or the center. Avoid looking at the screen, the floor, or the ceiling, as this can make you seem unprepared or uninterested. Use eye contact to create a connection with your audience, emphasize your main points, and invite feedback. For example, look at someone directly when making a personal or emotional appeal, or look around the room when asking a question or soliciting a response.
Eye contact is a skill you can improve through practice and feedback. Observe how others use eye contact in meetings and note what works and what does not. Additionally, record yourself speaking or presenting and watch how you use eye contact. Ask for feedback from colleagues, friends, or mentors to better understand their perspective on your eye contact. And practice your eye contact in situations such as one-on-one conversations, group discussions, or formal presentations. Doing so will help you show interest and confidence in a meeting while also enhancing communication and rapport with your audience.
After graduating from college, someone pointed out that I could have improved at making eye contact when speaking with someone. I had to be very intentional in making sure I was practicing it. It's easy one-on-one but harder when you're in a group. It's essential when you're in a job interview. If you are in a panel interview, make sure to shift to each person as they speak. It's a way to show you're listening and that you understand what they're saying. No one is perfect but practice helps.