A short instructional YouTube video by TJ Walker offering a practical technique for managing speech anxiety using eye contact: systematically look at one person at a time for about two sentences or one idea before moving to the next person. Walker argues this reduces speaker anxiety and increases audience engagement and comfort.
What's the most effective way to use good eye contact to manage your anxiety when giving a speech? Well, it's not to stare at your notes, ignore the audience, or look over their head, or stare at a clock. And it's not to be a windshield wiper and look at everyone all the time. Best thing you can do with your eye contact to make you feel comfortable and your audience comfortable is to look at one person at a time. Just for two sentences, just for a couple of ideas, one thought, then go to the next person. Do that systematically throughout your entire presentation. If you do that, you'll be less anxious, your audience will be much more engaged in you and your message.
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