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The benefits of eye contact
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The challenges of eye contact
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The best practices of eye contact
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The pitfalls and mistakes of eye contact
Nonverbal communication is a powerful tool for leaders, especially when it comes to eye contact. Eye contact can convey confidence, interest, respect, and empathy, depending on how you use it. In this article, you will learn how to use eye contact effectively as a leader in different situations, such as meetings, presentations, feedback, and networking.
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- Dan Schawbel LinkedIn Top Voice, New York Times Bestselling Author, Managing Partner of Workplace Intelligence, Led 75+ Workplace…
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1 The benefits of eye contact
Eye contact is a key element of nonverbal communication, as it can shape how others view you and how you feel about yourself. Making eye contact can help to build rapport and trust with your audience or interlocutor, as well as show that you are attentive and engaged in the conversation or topic. It can also demonstrate confidence and authority in your role and message, express emotion and empathy when appropriate, and reduce distractions and interruptions.
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- Dan Schawbel LinkedIn Top Voice, New York Times Bestselling Author, Managing Partner of Workplace Intelligence, Led 75+ Workplace Research Studies
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Maintaining eye contact with others can help establish trust and build rapport, as it signals that you are actively engaged and interested in what they have to say. Additionally, good eye contact can help convey confidence, sincerity, and credibility, which are all important traits for leaders to possess. Finally, it can also help promote better understanding and facilitate more effective communication by allowing you to pick up on nonverbal cues and signals from others.
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See AlsoHow to Overcome Eye Contact AnxietyWhy Do Celebs Wear Sunglasses?Looking Off-Camera vs. Looking into the LensBlog - Discounted SunglassesFunny
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- DEBORAH BROWN-VOLKMAN Chief Career Officer 📣LinkedIn Top Voice ☀️ 20+ Year Career Coaching Success Track Record 🥊 Career Goals Expert 🌺 Childhood Abuse Survivor
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Eye contact is how you really connect with others. It's also how you read the room. Are people being honest with you? Do they have your best interests at heart? The eyes don't lie. They are the pathway to someone's soul.
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- Dr. Elizabeth Lindsey (Crowley) Crowley Technologies Head of Global Relations • National Geographic Explorer • Cultural Anthropologist •United Nations Visionary Award Recipient
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Eyes tell the truth in a world where words can often be misleading. A simple glance, a prolonged gaze, or the absence of eye contact can convey just as much more than words ever could. It's not just about the frequency or duration of eye contact. It's about the meaning behind it. How you look at someone can convey empathy, challenge, or even anger. A confident, steady gaze can inspire trust and credibility, while a lack of eye contact can indicate dishonesty or disinterest. Eyes don't lie. They are a powerful form of nonverbal communication.
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2 The challenges of eye contact
Eye contact can be a tricky thing to navigate, as it can vary depending on the culture, context, and personality of the people involved. If you stare too intensely or for too long, it can be seen as aggressive or intrusive. On the other hand, avoiding eye contact or looking away frequently can be interpreted as nervousness, dishonesty, or disinterest. Additionally, making eye contact with only one person or a small group can be seen as favoritism or exclusion, and breaking eye contact at the wrong moment can be seen as rude or dismissive.
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Making eye contact is easy for some and challenging for others. If it doesn't come naturally to you, practice. Practice in friendly settings. Practice with friends and with family members. And ask for feedback.
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3 The best practices of eye contact
As a leader, it is important to balance the amount, duration, and direction of your gaze, depending on the situation and the goal. During meetings, make eye contact with everyone in the room to show that you value their input and feedback. When giving presentations, scan the audience and make eye contact with different sections or individuals to keep them engaged and interested in your message. When giving or receiving feedback, maintain eye contact with the person to show that you are respectful and supportive. When networking, make eye contact with the person you are talking to, but also look around occasionally to show that you are open and friendly.
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"Smiling eyes" makes everyone feel at ease and want to speak up, which is essential.Also, if you get nervous, think about it like a neighborhood barbeque.You want to get to know every person in the room, at least to some degree-- and the best way to start making those connections is by facial recognition. You have to be able to look them in the eye when they speak, or you are speaking.
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- Dan Schawbel LinkedIn Top Voice, New York Times Bestselling Author, Managing Partner of Workplace Intelligence, Led 75+ Workplace Research Studies
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One of the best practices of eye contact is to maintain consistent eye contact, but not to stare for too long, as this can make others uncomfortable. It is important to strike a balance between looking attentive and engaging, while also being respectful of personal boundaries.
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4 The tips and tricks of eye contact
If you find eye contact difficult or uncomfortable, you can use some tips and tricks to improve your skills and confidence. For instance, practice eye contact with yourself in the mirror or with a friend or colleague and ask for feedback. Additionally, you can use the triangle technique, which involves looking at the person's eyes and nose, to create the illusion of eye contact without staring. Moreover, the 50/70 rule suggests making eye contact for 50% of the time when you are speaking and 70% of the time when you are listening, to avoid overdoing or underdoing it. Finally, the blink technique involves blinking naturally and occasionally, to avoid dry eyes or awkward pauses.
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5 The pitfalls and mistakes of eye contact
Eye contact can be a powerful tool, but it can also backfire if you are not careful. It is important to be aware of the potential pitfalls and mistakes. For example, making eye contact with someone who is not interested or comfortable with it can be seen as intrusive. Similarly, making eye contact with someone who is higher or lower in status or power than you can be seen as disrespectful or challenging. Additionally, making eye contact with someone who is attractive or appealing to you can be seen as flirting or inappropriate. Lastly, making eye contact with someone who is angry or hostile to you can escalate the conflict or provoke a reaction.
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- Nola Simon 🌀🪁Rethinking hybrid/remote through a trust lens | B2B consultant - Business Transformation | Keynote speaker| Podcast host | Linkedin® Top Voice 2024 | Top 50 Remote Accelerator 2024
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Eye contact can be interesting when your eyes are two different colours. My left eye is green and my right eye is blue. When the light is right, people just stop mid-conversation and stare. It's easy to make assumptions about people's true intentions - I encourage empathy and compassion. Don't jump to conclusions about what eye contact means. Challenge yourself if you find you often make snap decisions based on eye contact. There may be contributing factors why eye contact is difficult for certain people - are you sure your reaction is inclusive?
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- DEBORAH BROWN-VOLKMAN Chief Career Officer 📣LinkedIn Top Voice ☀️ 20+ Year Career Coaching Success Track Record 🥊 Career Goals Expert 🌺 Childhood Abuse Survivor
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You want to be appropriate in how you look at people. You don't want to stare. That will make your working relationships awkward and a reason why people will stay away from you.
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