Eye contact creates connection from "summary" of The Art of Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie,J. Berg Esenwein
Eye contact is a powerful tool that can help speakers establish a connection with their audience. When a speaker makes eye contact with members of the audience, it creates a sense of intimacy and engagement. It shows the audience that the speaker is not just talking at them, but rather, talking to them. This can help hold the audience's attention and make them feel more invested in what the speaker has to say. Furthermore, eye contact can help convey confidence and credibility. When a speaker looks their audience members in the eye, it signals that they are confident in what they are saying. This can help build trust with the audience and make them more likely to believe in the speaker's message. Additionally, eye contact can help speakers gauge the reactions of their audience. By making eye contact with individual audience members, speakers can see how they are responding to the speech. Are they nodding in agreement? Are they looking confused? This feedback can help speakers adjust their delivery in real-time to better connect with their audience.- Eye contact is a simple yet powerful technique that can help speakers create a connection with their audience. It conveys intimacy, confidence, and credibility, while also allowing speakers to gauge audience reactions and adjust their delivery accordingly. By making eye contact with their audience members, speakers can make their speeches more engaging and impactful.