Storytelling Seven: Why Mastering Eye Contact is Crucial for Storytellers
I\u2019m on a Zoom call rehearsing with a group of speakers who are getting ready for an upcoming TEDx event. Yet something\u2019s off.
After finishing her run, one speaker admits, \u201cI don\u2019t really feel like I\u2019m connected.\u201d\xa0
And that\u2019s when I realize something. She\u2019s scanning the room and not really seeing anyone. It\u2019s like she\u2019s talking into the void.
So I say, \u201cTry focusing on one person at a time, like you\u2019re talking directly to that particular person. Then focus on the next person, and then the next.\u201d
I have everybody take a turn at this. They\u2019re hesitant at first. Yet over the next few weeks, they start making genuine connections with their audience even though it\u2019s through the screen.
It\u2019s incredible to see and just another powerful reminder of the magic of eye contact. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, we continue our Storytelling Seven series where you\u2019ll learn why mastering eye contact is such a crucial element in storytelling and public speaking. In the process, you\u2019ll also find out:
Why can eye contact make or break your presentation? What specific considerations should you keep in mind for eye contact in virtual presentations? And how can you practice making eye contact in your speech or story?
What you will learn in this episode:
- How eye contact helps you as the speaker or storyteller
- How eye contact serves as a bridge between you and your audience
- How to overcome the challenges of mastering eye contact
A little about me:
Hi there. I\u2019m Kymberlee.
As a Speaking Strategist and founder of Storytelling School, I\u2019ve had the pleasure of working with over 500 speakers, business leaders, and entrepreneurs worldwide for over a decade. No matter if those folks were getting ready to take the TED or TEDx stage or preparing for a high-stakes presentation with everything on the line, my specialty is High Stakes Short Form Communication. I\u2019ve seen what works when influencing change and what doesn\u2019t. It turns out storytelling is one of the most powerful tools you can have in your arsenal. That\u2019s why I\u2019m building a movement of master storytellers to affect change in the world on a global scale to help people tell real stories that have influence and impact. With effective storytelling, you change people\u2019s lives.
Since competition for potential client attention is fierce, a story can make the difference between being memorable or irrelevant. You\u2019ll find me sharing my matcha tea mishap to discuss perfectionism, my quest for Bruce Lee and Hello Kitty art to explore kindness, or the six months of live blade training I underwent to illustrate presence. I spend my days showing the power of using stories to help cement ideas and bring lessons to life and teach my clients to do the same.
If you think business owners can\u2019t tell stories or don\u2019t have stories to share with their clients, staff, donors, followers, or investors, I invite you to reconsider your perspective. There\u2019s no better place than in business to tell your stories so audiences, no matter how big or small, can understand how you think and what you value.
Now it\u2019s your turn... If you\u2019re ready to become a master storyteller and effect change in our world, you\u2019ve come to the right place.
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