Look at the audience! ("Yeah, well, duh!")

      Truth to tell, unless you're a TV newscaster whose job it is to look directly into the camera, sometimes it's not so simple to know where to direct our focus when we're in front of a large or even a smallish audience.  It's a given that natural and comprehensive eye contact is one of a speaker's most important assets, yet it can be challenging to be sure you're engaging everyone's attention.  The question remains, what are some easy and efficient techniques to ensure that when you look at your audience, they're definitely looking back at you?     

1.   The eyes have it!  Along with your voice, your eyes are your most basic communication tool.  The moment you take the spotlight, before you say a single word, looking your audience straight in the eye says you are confident, knowledgeable and, above all, trustworthy.  The audience wants to believe in you.  They're on your side.  When you engage them eye-to-eye, you're giving them your respect.  In exchange, they'll honor you with their trust.

Take a moment before you begin to speak, stand quitely, and look directly at as many of your listeners as you can, slowly moving your head from left to right.  This technique has a double bonus.  It gives you a moment to center yourself, take a couple of deep breaths and feel as calm and relaxed as possible before you begin to speak.  It gives the audience a chance to settle down, familiarize themselves with your appearance, and get ready to listen carefully. 

2.     Give everyone in every seat the benefit of your attention.  All your listeners in the audience want to feel like you're speaking directly to them.  It's easy.  As you begin to speak, pick out a smiling face on the left, an attentive face in the middle and a friendly face on the right.  Choose people who are looking directly at you, obviously interested, even nodding in understanding.  As you speak, move your eyes from left to right and back again, looking just at these three people.  Everyone in the room will think you're speaking directly to them while you're actually speaking to your three chosen friends. This technique can greatly alleviate your qualms if speaking to large groups is intimidating.

             3.     Use your eyes for emphasis.  When you're making an important point, choose someone in the audience and speak directly to her.  Lock onto her gaze and hold it.  Don't move.  When you've finished stating your point, wait a second longer in silence to let the audience absorb what you said.  Then choose someone else, lock onto his gaze, and repeat the key words of your point.  Wait in silence for another second before you move your eyes and continue on with your speech.  Let your eyes emphasize the importance of what you're saying.

             4.      Practice blink control.  Can't stop blinking?  Too much is a sign of nervousness or forgetting.  Not enough... i.e., zombie eyes... is a sign of terror.  When you're rehearsing your speech, ask an honest friend if your blinking is distracting.  Practice controlling it in front of a mirror. You want the audience to focus on what you're saying, not your eyelashes.

            Use these simple techniques to help you feel calm, confident and comfortable in front of an audience.  A direct, honest gaze between you and your listeners shows how much you respect them.  In return, they'll respect and trust you.  It's a win-win agreement.