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Confidence / Making Eye Contact / Lesson 29

LESSON 29 · MAKING EYE CONTACT

Look at the Camera, Not the Screen

Thirty-two ways to look at the camera instead of the screen, so people on the other end feel you looking at them.

The lens is the other person’s eyes. Look there and they feel seen.

40 tipsEasy things to say7-day plan

40 tips that really help

These ideas come from What Every BODY Is Saying (Joe Navarro), The Definitive Book of Body Language (Allan and Barbara Pease), Presence (Amy Cuddy), and everyday practice. Pick one tip and try it today.

TIP 1

The lens is the other person's eyes

On a video call, looking at the camera lens feels to the other person like real eye contact. Looking at their face on your screen feels, to them, as if you are gazing slightly below their eyes. One small habit makes you look much more engaged.

TRY THIS
Stick a small note with a face next to your camera lens today.

TIP 2

Why it feels odd

Your instinct is to look at faces on the screen, not at a tiny dot. That is normal. Because faces are where the information is, looking at the lens feels like looking at nothing, at first.

TRY THIS
Tell yourself, “Feeling odd is just feeling new.”

TIP 3

Use the lens for your key sentences

You cannot look at the lens all the time, and you do not need to. Aim for the lens for the sentences that matter most, such as your opening, your main point and your thanks.

TRY THIS
Mark three key sentences in your notes and look at the lens for each.

TIP 4

Look at faces when you listen

While others speak, it is natural to look at their faces on screen. It shows you are paying attention, and the speaker cannot tell where you look.

TRY THIS
Watch the speaker’s face while they talk.

TIP 5

Alternate lens and faces

Lens when you speak, faces when you listen. This rhythm mirrors how people look in real conversation: more while listening, a little less while talking.

TRY THIS
Practise alternating on a short call.

TIP 6

Move the video window under the camera

Drag the speaker’s video to the top of your screen, right beneath the camera. When you look at their face, your eyes will be close to the lens and it will look like direct eye contact.

TRY THIS
Resize the call window and move it up to the camera.

TIP 7

Make windows smaller

A big window spread across your screen makes your eyes sweep sideways. Shrinking the call window and placing it near the camera reduces eye drift.

TRY THIS
Shrink your call window to about a quarter of the screen.

TIP 8

Hide your self-view

Looking at your own face pulls your gaze off the lens and makes you self-conscious. Most video tools let you hide self-view.

TRY THIS
Turn off self-view on your next call.

TIP 9

Open and close with the lens

Start by looking at the lens and smiling as you greet, and end by looking at the lens as you say thank you. People remember the first and last moments.

TRY THIS
Plan your first and last lines for the lens.

TIP 10

Raise your camera

A laptop on a desk looks up at your chin. Put it on a stack of books so the camera is at eye level, and your look will feel natural and level.

TRY THIS
Stack books under your laptop tonight.

TIP 11

Use an external webcam

A webcam clipped to the top of a monitor sits close to eye level and near the content you look at. It often improves your eye line more than any technique.

TRY THIS
Consider an external webcam if you present often.

TIP 12

Use a teleprompter app

Some tools show your script near the camera, so your eyes stay close to the lens while you read. They suit prepared talks and recorded messages.

TRY THIS
Try a free teleprompter for a recorded video.

TIP 13

Place notes near the lens

If you need notes, put them close to the camera, not on another screen. It keeps your eye line steady and your face turned toward the viewer.

TRY THIS
Move your notes next to the camera.

TIP 14

Do not read from a side screen

Looking sideways at another monitor makes you look distracted. Bring everything you need onto the screen with the camera.

TRY THIS
Close or move the side screen.

TIP 15

Do not look down at your phone

Phones pull your gaze down and are obvious on camera. Put them away.

TRY THIS
Silence and hide your phone.

TIP 16

Do not look at the keyboard

Looking down to type shows the top of your head. Touch-type if you can, or type during pauses and look up when someone speaks.

TRY THIS
Look up while others are speaking.

TIP 17

Do not stare at the lens constantly

Constant staring feels unnatural and tires you. Blink, glance at faces and return to the lens now and then.

TRY THIS
Blink and glance at faces between key points.

TIP 18

Do not forget to smile

A warm face on video matters even more than in person, because small expressions get lost. Smile at the lens when you greet and thank.

TRY THIS
Smile at the lens at the start.

TIP 19

Rehearse with a friend

Call a friend and practise looking at the lens. Ask how it looks from their side. They can tell you whether it feels like eye contact.

TRY THIS
Do a five-minute test call.

TIP 20

Record a test

Record a short clip and watch it twice. You will see how much better the lens looks than the screen.

TRY THIS
Record thirty seconds today.

TIP 21

Draw a friendly face

A small drawing of a smiley face or a photo of a friend beside the lens makes the dot feel like a person. Your face warms naturally.

TRY THIS
Put a small picture next to your camera.

TIP 22

Look at the lens in short bursts

Start with ten seconds at a time. As it gets easier, make the bursts longer.

TRY THIS
Count ten seconds and look back at faces.

TIP 23

Use it in interviews

Looking at the lens when you answer shows confidence. Glance at the interviewer’s face while they speak.

TRY THIS
Look at the lens for your answers.

TIP 24

Use it in presentations

Speak to the lens as if talking to one person. It makes a large audience feel personal.

TRY THIS
Imagine a friend behind the lens.

TIP 25

Use it in team calls

Look at the lens when you address the whole team. It feels inclusive.

TRY THIS
Look at the lens to greet the group.

TIP 26

Use it in one-to-ones

Mix lens and faces. A look at the lens at key moments builds trust.

TRY THIS
Look at the lens for your key line.

TIP 27

Use it in teaching

Teachers who look at the lens engage students better, because each student feels looked at.

TRY THIS
Look at the lens when explaining.

TIP 28

Use it when you sell or pitch

Look at the lens when you give your offer. It feels direct and honest.

TRY THIS
Look at the lens for the offer.

TIP 29

Use it in recorded videos

For recorded messages, look at the lens throughout. Smile and imagine one friendly viewer.

TRY THIS
Record with your eyes on the lens.

TIP 30

Light your face

Good light helps your eyes show. Face a window or put a lamp in front of you, slightly to one side.

TRY THIS
Move your desk to face the light.

TIP 31

Check your background

A tidy background keeps attention on your face. A plain wall is fine.

TRY THIS
Tidy what the camera sees.

TIP 32

Check your sound

Good audio helps connection as much as good video. Use headphones.

TRY THIS
Test your headphones.

TIP 33

Take breaks

Video calls are tiring. Look away from the screen and rest your eyes between calls.

TRY THIS
Take a two-minute break between calls.

TIP 34

Use AI eye-contact features carefully

Some devices and apps can adjust your gaze to seem to look at the camera. They can help, but they sometimes look unnatural. Test before relying on them.

TRY THIS
Try the feature in a private test call.

TIP 35

Be patient with the habit

It takes weeks of practice to look natural on video. Be kind to yourself.

TRY THIS
Practise on a few calls each week.

TIP 36

Notice engagement

When people say you seem present and engaged, you know it is working.

TRY THIS
Note a compliment.

TIP 37

Be kind to yourself

Even experienced speakers find video hard. Do your best and keep learning.

TRY THIS
Forgive a clumsy call.

TIP 38

Celebrate your presence

Each call where you feel connected is a win. Notice it.

TRY THIS
Note one good call this week.

TIP 39

Accept that perfect video eye contact is impossible

Even trained presenters cannot keep their gaze on the lens and also see faces. Aim for good enough: lens at key moments and a warm, engaged face the rest of the time.

TRY THIS
Aim for “present and warm” rather than perfect.

TIP 40

Look at the lens when you share good news or thanks

Warm messages, such as “Thank you all, this was a team win”, land best when you look at the lens. Keep the emotional lines for the camera.

TRY THIS
Look at the lens for your next thank-you.

Easy things to say

When you are stuck, pick one of these. They work in many everyday situations.

HELLO

“Hi everyone, lovely to see you all.”

POINT

“The main thing I want to say is this.”

CHECK

“Can everyone see and hear me clearly?”

LISTEN

“Please go on, I am listening.”

THANK

“Thank you all for joining.”

“Great talking with you today.”

Your first week

One small action a day. Each day is only a little bigger than the last.

DAY 1
Find your camera lens

DAY 2
Put a sticker beside it

DAY 3
Look at the lens for key points

DAY 4
Glance at faces while listening

DAY 5
Shrink the video window

DAY 6
Test with a friend

DAY 7
Record and review

More lessons in “Making Eye Contact”

Keep going. Small steps every day make a big change.

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