This is one of the most irritating things I’ve come across lately. Be it in meetings, social gatherings or even greeting exchanges, people struggle to look you in the eye when talking to you…
I don’t know if it’s because of guilt, insufficient self confidence or simply just a way to show that they aren’t interested…in the end I don’t think they know how much it actually counts against them.
Why do I say that it counts against them? Well I feel that it’s disrespectful when people don’t look you in the eyes when they talk to you. There is obviously certain scenarios where the person is busy with something else and can’t look at you, but in the cases where you are meeting face to face, eye contact is crucial.
Not only will you portray respect, self confidence and interest, but authority in some ways too. It is also proven that if you look at someone your attention is focused on them and therefore your mind draws up everything said in the conversation.
My opinion is that it’s very important to look someone in the eyes when you talk to them. This applies to business too. People want to be looked in the eyes.
What is your opinion? Let me know.
