The Australian Businesswomen’s Network’s Community Director, Suzi Dafnis has been featured in News.com.au’s, “Declining eye contact hitting companies bottom line”, on 31 May 2013. A new study conducted by a Texas communications/analytics company, Qualified Impressions, found that in an average conversation, adults make eye contact between 30-60% of the time. To create a sense of emotional connection, making eye contact should be 60-70% of the time.
Eye contact is fundamental in business life.
The article suggests that eye contact is fundamental in business life, stating that its lack of existence can raise profound problems such as present carelessness, disrespect, “shifty-ness”, or low in confidence. Suzi Dafnis agrees with this notion, noting that the working-from-home trend and tools like Skype meant people were connecting up with each other less often in person:
“We’re connecting with more people while having less actual personal and eye contact.”
Dale Carnegie, author of How to Win Friends and Influence People, believes that making and maintaining eye contact will make everyone you meet feel important, saying:
“… it creates a chemical reaction and emotional response that is necessary for good relationships.”
Eye contact can:
- Be a tool for influencing others;
- Convey confidence and respect;
- Signify you are in command;
- Signal you are standing your ground.
