Should you make eye contact with individuals in your audience? The answer is: Yes. In fact, it is essential that you do so.
It Shows Speaker's Interest In Reaching Audience!
Here's why. When you speak to an audience, you are attempting to communicate with them. That's what public speaking is, one person attempting to communicate with others. And what is communication? The flow of ideas from one mind to another, or to a group of individual minds.
In everyday life, if you're talking with someone, and they look first at their watch, then at the ceiling, then at a magazine they have in their hand, and finally at others passing by, what feeling do you start to get? You begin to feel that they have little interest in communicating with you, and you're probably right. Why? Because they never look at you!
It Builds Trust!
Similarly, when a speaker looks over the heads of those in his audience, or at the back wall, in an effort to seem to make visual contact, no one in his audience is fooled. He might as well focus on his notes and not look up at all. The effect on the audience is the same. It becomes easy for them to feel that the speaker has no real interest in them, but is simply giving a speech. So making eye contact builds trust.
Holds Interest of Audience!
Another benefit of making visual contact with various individuals in the audience is that the entire group is more likely to feel that you are conversing with them, rather than giving a speech to them. People find it easier to pay attention to a conversation they're engaged in than to a speech someone is giving. To be conversational, we have to look at members of our audience. This helps to maintain their interest.
Provides Feedback!
In one-on-one conversations, we look at the other person to get feedback. Even if they make no reply to a statement we make, we try to fathom their reaction by the expression on their face. If they smile or nod their head, we take that as agreement. That feedback encourages us to continue. If they frown or shake their head from side to side, we know they may not be in total agreement with what we just said, and we may give a more detailed explanation to convince them.
Speaking to an audience is similar. We need feedback, to see whether they seem to accept what we're saying, or if more explanation is needed. The person in the second row who smiles and nods her head is telling you what you need to know. She's saying that she both understands and agrees with you. But how can you perceive that if you're looking at the back wall?
It Gives Emotional Support To The Speaker!
A fifth reason to look briefly at different people is your audience is the emotional support you'll often receive. While you are not primarily seeking support, you'll often somehow sense that the audience is emotionally in tune with you. You cannot sense that if you avoid looking at individuals in your audience. This, in turn, is a powerful stimulant to you as a speaker, and may even improve your presentation.
