Don’t Overdo It
While it is recommended to establish deliberate, meaningful eye contact with your audience, you certainly don’t want to overdo it. If you look at someone for too long, it can actually come across like staring and will send the wrong message.A good rule of thumb is to remember the 50/70 rule which states that you should maintain eye contact 50 percent of the time while speaking and 70 percent of the time while listening. This is enough to display interest and confidence without making the other person feel uncomfortable.Â
Hold It Just Long Enough to Connect
Eye contact does not mean that you occasionally look up from your script and scan the entire crowd in a couple of seconds. In order for the eye contact to be meaningful, it should be deliberate and forced on one individual so that you can connect with that person. On average, you should hold your gaze for about 4-5 seconds. This is long enough to establish a connection but short enough that you won’t make the person uncomfortable.Â
Move From One Person to the Next
You certainly don’t want to look at the same person each time you look up from your notes. Not only can this appear like staring, but it is also not perceived as genuine. Each time you start a new sentence, try moving to a new person. This will prevent you from looking at one individual for too long.Â
Look at the Person’s Reaction
If you notice the person nodding or smiling when you make eye contact with them, you know you have made a connection. On the other hand, if you notice the person averting their eyes or slouching in their seat, you know it is making them uncomfortable. Remember that not everyone enjoys being looked at directly in the eyes and you should adjust your eye contact accordingly.