Non-Verbal Micro-Skills
Eye Contact Technique

Use strategic eye contact to build trust, maintain attention, and demonstrate confidence.

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What it is

The deliberate use of direct visual connection with your audience to establish rapport, convey sincerity, and maintain engagement. Involves varying contact duration and distribution across individuals or groups.

Before & after

Before

Staring intensely without breaks, avoiding all eye contact, constantly looking at notes or slides.

After

Natural eye contact during key points, brief breaks to glance at notes, scanning entire audience in small groups.

When you’ll use it

One-on-one conversations: Maintain 50-70% eye contact, looking away briefly to process thoughts

Small group presentations: Hold eye contact 3-5 seconds per person before moving to the next

Large audience speaking: Focus on friendly faces in different sections, creating illusion of personal connection

Virtual meetings: Look directly at the camera, not the screen, when making key points

Pro tip

Three seconds per person, then move on. Look at the camera, not the screen, in virtual settings.

Questions & answers

3 questions

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