This presentation was created for my high-school speech class.

1. Public Speaking:
Eye-Contact

2. Eye contact occurs when two people look at each other's eyes at
the same time.
Eye contact is a form of nonverbal communication and is thought
to have a large influence on social behavior.
From Wikipedia.com

3. • Eye-contact signifies interest in what another person
has to say. When a person looks away it’s often a sign
that they are not interested.
• Have you ever tried to have a conversation with
someone but they don’t look directly at you? Did you
feel that the person was really listening?

4. • Reading a speech from written notes makes the audience feel that
you are not talking to them, but at them.
• Make eye-contact to show the audience you are speaking to THEM.
Image: hearsaycommunications.com

5. Maintain eye-contact with each person for 3-5 seconds. Staring too
long at one person makes that person very uncomfortable and
excludes everyone else.
You also want to avoid running your eyes across the audience at a
rapid pace, this is just creepy!

6. Eye-contact often signifies honesty. People who lie usually can’t help
but look away but someone who is honest has no hesitation looking at
listeners.
The audience feels that a speaker who looks at them is more credible.
Image: salon.com

7. When you make eye-contact with others a form of bonding occurs. The
audience feels that they are a part of your speech and want to listen.
Image: Australianspeaker.com

8. Eye-contact keeps the audience focused on your message.
Image:http://www.ihatepresentations.com/2012/06/

9. Top Tip: As you look at each person imagine you are having an
individual conversation with them.
This helps you to feel and act more natural.
Caravaggio: The Fortun
Caravaggio: The Fortune Teller.

10. Summary
Eye-contact is a powerful form of nonverbal communication.
Use Eye-contact to make your speech a
success