Learn how to deal with eye contact distractions or interruptions in a conference. Discover eye contact techniques for different cultures and situations.

If somebody is verbally interrupting, I will look directly at the person and say, "I'm going to ask that comments be held until I open the floor for Q&A."

How do you deal with eye contact distractions or interruptions in a conference?

Eye contact is a crucial element of effective conference speaking. It helps you connect with your audience, convey confidence, and keep them engaged. But what if you encounter distractions or interruptions that break your eye contact or make it uncomfortable? How can you deal with them without losing your focus or your credibility? Here are some tips to help you overcome eye contact challenges in a conference.

1 Know your audience

Before you speak, do some research on your audience and their cultural backgrounds. Different cultures have different norms and expectations for eye contact. For example, some cultures may consider direct eye contact as a sign of respect and honesty, while others may see it as rude or aggressive. Some cultures may prefer more eye contact, while others may prefer less. Knowing these differences can help you adjust your eye contact accordingly and avoid offending or confusing your audience.

Add your perspective

John Lee

Entrepreneur, Investor, Adviser, Web3 & A.I.
Report contribution
After 20 years of speaking on stage the secret to the right amount of eye contact moving from sentence to sentence or the message landing point. 👍

Like

2 Scan the room

Don't fixate your eye contact on one person or one section of the room. Instead, scan the room and make eye contact with different people in different areas. This will make your audience feel included and attentive, and also help you avoid staring at someone who may be distracting or uncomfortable. A good rule of thumb is to make eye contact with one person for about three to five seconds, then move on to another person. You can also use the 50/70 rule, which means that you should make eye contact with 50% of your audience for 70% of your speech.

Add your perspective

John Lee

Entrepreneur, Investor, Adviser, Web3 & A.I.
Report contribution
Device your audience seats into four parts like a grid and look for the highest energy group and move the energy from grid to grid 💪

Like

3 Ignore the distractions

Sometimes, you may encounter distractions that can break your eye contact, such as people talking, moving, checking their phones, or leaving the room. These distractions can be annoying and tempting to react to, but don't let them derail your speech. Instead, ignore them and focus on the people who are paying attention and interested in your message. If you acknowledge the distractions, you may lose your train of thought, your confidence, or your rapport with your audience. Remember, you are the speaker and you have the authority and the responsibility to deliver your speech.

Add your perspective

John Lee

Entrepreneur, Investor, Adviser, Web3 & A.I.
Report contribution
when people are on their phones or yawning call it out and reframe why it’s so important to listen to what is being delivered

Like

4 Handle the interruptions

Other times, you may face interruptions that can challenge your eye contact, such as questions, comments, or objections from your audience. These interruptions can be useful and constructive, but they can also be disruptive and hostile. How you handle them depends on the nature and the timing of the interruption. If the interruption is relevant and respectful, you can answer it briefly and politely, and then resume your speech. If the interruption is irrelevant or rude, you can acknowledge it and defer it to the end of your speech, or ask the person to stop and respect the rules of the conference. In either case, maintain your eye contact with the person who interrupted you, and then with the rest of your audience, to show that you are in control and confident.

Add your perspective

John Lee

Entrepreneur, Investor, Adviser, Web3 & A.I.
Report contribution
best way to handle this is to say i’ll be taking questions at the end. They say write down all your questions in the back of your work books and I’ll answer them later.

Like
Claire Lyons FRSA

Writer. Grief & Sustainability Expert. I discuss people and planet with a focus on loss. Sharing complex messages with integrity. 20 years of professional and lived experience. Freelance. Born at 329.43ppm.
Report contribution
Before you start your talk, always set the ground rules for when you will take questions, or how long you will talk for and the format etc. It helps manage expectations.

Like

5 Practice and improve

The best way to deal with eye contact distractions or interruptions in a conference is to practice and improve your eye contact skills. You can practice in front of a mirror, a video camera, or a friend, and get feedback on your eye contact. You can also watch other speakers and observe how they use eye contact effectively. You can also join a public speaking club or a course, where you can learn and practice eye contact techniques in a supportive and constructive environment. The more you practice and improve, the more comfortable and confident you will be with your eye contact in any conference situation.

Add your perspective

Dr. Erica Zelfand

Physician specializing in functional medicine & integrative mental health (including psychεdεlics).
Report contribution
If somebody is verbally interrupting, I will look directly at the person and say, "I'm going to ask that comments be held until I open the floor for Q&A."

Like
Claire Lyons FRSA

Writer. Grief & Sustainability Expert. I discuss people and planet with a focus on loss. Sharing complex messages with integrity. 20 years of professional and lived experience. Freelance. Born at 329.43ppm.
Report contribution
I think the best speakers have found their groove. I'm often so 'into' my topic that I don't notice distractions, the rarely put me off my game. If it's someone leaving or entering the room, I might acknowledge it, or take a short break while they settle down.

Like
John Lee

Entrepreneur, Investor, Adviser, Web3 & A.I.
Report contribution
best way to practice is to speak on camera and watch it back then tweet and test it on smaller audiences. Always record your talks to see how many people reacted to parts of your talk and create a swipe file on what worked and what didn’t.

Like

How do you deal with eye contact distractions or interruptions in a conference?

1

2

3

4

5

1 Know your audience

2 Scan the room

3 Ignore the distractions

4 Handle the interruptions

5 Practice and improve

Conference Speaking

Rate this article

Thanks for your feedback

More articles on Conference Speaking

More relevant reading