Ten Tips On Eye Contact At Work by Rachel Green

1. Establish eye contact before starting to speak: it can give the impression of confidence.
   

2. When you're giving a speech look at the people at the sides of the audience as well as in the middle.
   

3. When listening, watch the speaker to convey interest in what is being said.
   

4. When you break eye contact move your eyes away from the person's body, e.g. to the side.
   Do not look down their body - this implies intimacy. I used to have a manager who would look down the whole length of my body when I arrived at work - most disconcerting! I always presumed she didn't approve of my clothes but she could just have been nervous.
   

5. When answering questions in a job interview, at a conference, or a media interview look at all the people who are there, not just the one who asked the question.
   

6. If you close your eyes for any significant time, (a second or more), you will be closing out your listeners. Look at them rather than closing off.
   

7. Frequent blinking may give the impression that you are nervous.
   

8. If wearing glasses look through their centre.
   Avoid looking over the top of them as this may be considered patronising, as in "looking down the nose".

9. Confident people maintain soft eye contact with people.
   It may be considered aggressive if you fix your eyes hard or stare.

10. Speak with a sparkle in your eyes - people may catch your enthusiasm.

Further information

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Confidence 4 U E-magazines can be found and printed off the website.

Leave a good impressions,
Best wishes,
Rachel Green
PO Box 344, Kelmscott, Western Australia 6991.
Phone: +61 8 9390 1188. Fax +61 8 9390 1199
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