Eye Contact in Public Speaking

Video Transcript

"DON VARNEY: Hi, I'm Don Varney, founder of Varney Speaks, and I'm here on behalf of Expert Village. One of the benefits of speaking is that you're going to have an opportunity to speak in some great places as you travel and as you're out visiting the different areas. We're in San Antonio, Texas at the historic Menger Hotel today, and in this room--there's a tremendous amount of history that comes with this room. Over my shoulder, looking at me today, making sure that I stay in line, is Sam Houston. Sam Houston became the first president of the Republic of Texas. This was after the fall of the Alamo and the battle of San Jacinto where eventually they won their independence. Think about the fact I'm standing here today with an opportunity to speak to people with history surrounding me. You know, there's things that you have to do when you're a speaker, and eye contact with the people in the room becomes so critical. What happens with us--if you're dominantly a right hander, for an example, you'll find that you'll have a tendency to always flow to the right side. And the reason being is looking here, gesturing here, moving here is a much more natural move for you. It's kinda like throwing a baseball. If you're right handed and you're going to throw it left, it just doesn't seem to work."