Eye Contact
The first element of nonverbal communication is eye contact.
After being introduced by the master of ceremonies, walk to the spot where you will start the delivery of your presentation, then pause. Look out at the audience and find a friendly face. Make eye contact, pause - deliver your strong opening!
Finish a sentence, and move on to another friendly face for your next thought. Continue this throughout your presentation using a quadrant approach, looking at different sections of the audience as your go on. Don't have a specific pattern to this else you'll appear robotic. (Please, no search light effect!) The important thing is not to leave anyone out and let all the audience feel you are speaking to them.
Eye Contact does a number of important things. It indicates honesty. (I'll bet you remember a parent telling you to, "Look me in the eye and tell me what happened!")
It creates a bond with the people you are speaking to. Of course you can't look everyone in the eye, but those around the person you are directly speaking to will feel the same bonding.
Looking directly at audience members conveys "competence in your confidence." You're nonverbally telling them you "know your stuff." It's OK to check notes to be certain you don't leave anything out of your presentation. If you really "know your stuff" it will be a quick glance, them you're back to engaging individuals with your eyes.
Making eye contact keeps the audience attentive to you and your message. This increases the odds they'll GET IT!
A good presentation should be like a one-on-one conversation. You, the speaker, are doing all the talking, but are getting responses from the audience by continually taking the temperature of their receiving your message. You do this by making eye contact and observing their facial expressions and body movement. Seeing heads moving affirmatively as you make a statement will give you energy and improve your delivery.
Not giving eye contact can be interpreted as being not trustworthy. They'll quickly tune you out.
If your gaze is downward, the audience will interpret it that you are not interested in engaging them. They'll then quickly disengage you!
If you make contact and the person looks away, move on to someone else and don't take it personally. (Some individuals, and cultures, are uncomfortable with having someone look directly at their eyes.) If you are one of these people, try looking at people's foreheads. They'll still feel the bond, and you'll be more at ease doing this.
Don't spend too much time looking at one person. It will be received as staring. They will feel uncomfortable and you'll be neglecting the rest of the attendees.
Check that wherever you are speaking from, you can see the entire audience. If you can't see them, they can't see you. Since nonverbal communication is important to conveying your message, this can't be overlooked.
The goal of a presentation is that the audience understands the message. Knowing and using the eye contact element of nonverbal communication will help you "hit the bull's eye!"
About the Author
Fred E. Miller is a speaker, a coach and the author of the book, "No Sweat Public Speaking!" Businesses and individuals hire him because they want to improve their Public Speaking and Presentation Skills. They do this because we perceive really great speakers to be Experts. Perception is reality and people like to work with Experts. They also know: Speaking Opportunities are Business Opportunities. Speaking Opportunities are Career and Leadership Opportunities. He shows them how to Develop, Practice and Deliver Knock Your Socks Off Presentations! with - No Sweat! Fred E. Miller Fred@NoSweatPublicSpeaking.com http://nosweatpublicspeaking.com
By Fred E. Miller
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