Make a Lasting Impression

People tend to worry about eye contact most in situations where they’re concerned about making a good impression on someone else, like first dates and job interviews. Even someone who has a natural aptitude for using an appropriate amount of eye contact can overthink these situations and end up sending a false message by staring or avoiding the other person’s gaze altogether.

Eye contact is tricky in the early stages of dating because even though you may be incredibly interested in everything your date is saying, you don’t want to come across as being over-the-edge-of-sanity interested (having a tendency toward developing obsessions, in other words). Use normal eye contact in the beginning stages (hold the gaze for a few seconds, look away, repeat), until your date ‘s body language (he’s moving closer and closer to you, he reaches to take your hand, he’s smilling nonstop) indicates that he’s really into you.

And how about that eye contact in a job interview? The same rules apply. Steady, consistent eye contact combined with well-timed breaks can work wonders for your overall image, especially since so many other interviewees don’t know what to do with their their eyeballs in this situation. The general recommendation is that you hold eye contact for no longer than five seconds before glancing away.

Fact:
Communicating at eye level establishes an equal relationship. Standing above someone while you’re literally talking down at him puts you in a position of being superior; looking up while someone browbeats you put in an inferior position.