Tangible Takeaways:Eye contact is critical for connection. Every time we communicate we have a powerful opportunity to connect with a tool most of us have: our eyes.If we don’t make eye contact when communicating or listening, we create a barrier for connection.When communicating 1:1, we make eye contact on average 7-9 seconds, when speaking to a large group, aim to make eye contact for approximately 3-5 seconds.When communicating with a large group, focus on connecting with one person at a time versus the whole group.Eye contact is also important in virtual meetings. This can be very challenging, but strive to look 1 inch below your camera to create the illusion of eye contact in a Zoom meeting.Remember: this is not a stare-down contest! We naturally look away every 10 seconds in 1-1 situations, so in a group setting you can look occasionally at your notes or your slides. Do your best to practice this habit of 3-5 seconds per person 80%of the time. Give yourself some grace.About me:Karen Laos, Communication Expert and Confidence Cultivator, leverages 25 years in the boardroom and speaking on the world’s most coveted stages such as Google and NASA to transform missed opportunities into wins. She is fiercely committed to her mission of eradicating self-doubt in 10 million women by giving them practical strategies to ask for what they want in the boardroom and beyond. She guides corporations and individuals with her tested communication model to generate consistent results through her Leadership Presence Keynote: How to Be an Influential Communicator. Connect with me:Website: https://www.karenlaos.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenlaosofficial Facebook: Ignite Your Confidence with Karen Laos: https://www.facebook.com/groups/karenlaosconsultingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenlaos/Clubhouse: @karenlaosEpisodes also available on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwQoTGdJX5eME0ccBKiKng/videosMy book “Trust Your Own Voice”: https://karenlaos.com/book/