Public Speaking Advice: Look Up

This sounds easy, but it isn’t.

Whenever you are presenting and you have notes, your notes emit an irresistible siren call. Suddenly, you can’t look away — you have to make sure you read every. single. word. After all, you don’t want to miss anything.

But here’s the problem. If your eyes are glued to your notes, you will miss something essential: making a connection with your audience.

If you don’t look at the people in your room — whether that’s in person or virtually — those people will lose interest. They will assume that you aren’t really talking to them, all because you aren’t looking at them.

So, if you have notes, be very familiar with them. Have enough confidence to look up regularly and make eye contact.

You don’t need to sweep the whole room every time you look up. All you need to do is look at one person for a few seconds.

The next time you look up, look at another person. Eventually, you will have looked at most of the people in the room.

By looking at the audience, you remember that they’re there. In the room with you. That helps you get out of your own head and speak to these people specifically.

By definition, a presentation involves more than just you — or you’d stay in your safe office and put your feet up while you read your notes.

Remember to look up and out into the room, and show your audience that you are there to connect with them.