Seeing Eye to Eye

You’ve seen it happen all too often! A network news program is interviewing an expert quarantined in her home office and she looks like she’s on a security camera because her computer is sitting on top of her bookshelf. A team member from work is giving a presentation on the status of the quarterly goals and everyone can see the hair up his nose! The person speaking on the screen is not looking too good. Well, it’s not that they look bad, but the angle of the camera is not right.

The best way to connect with other people is eye to eye. That is true of in-person interaction and it is even more valuable to you in a virtual setting. Do whatever it takes to get on an eye to eye level with your audience.

THREE QUICK TIPS TO MAKE EYE CONTACT:

1) Get the camera even with your eyesight. Your computer, cell phone, or other camera lens should be comfortably in line with your eyes. A camera that is too high will make it easy to drop your gaze while your talking. A camera too low will make you drop your chin and can affect your volume. It is better to raise your computer to an appropriate level than to lower your chair.

2) Look at the camera, not the screen. The camera is virtually the eyes of the person who is watching you on the other screen. When you are speaking make every effort to look at the camera. Yes, there will be times you need to see the content on your laptop - but make it brief and get back to connecting with your viewers.

3) Up close and personal! Get close enough that your participants can see your face. You don’t have to be so close they can identify the color of your eyes, but they should be able to see the expressions you make as you speak. Before your session begins preview how you look on the screen and make sure that people can see you from the shoulders up.