You are probably familiar with the adage, "The eyes are the window to the soul," and this holds true in several ways. Eye contact is an integral part of human communication that helps establish a sense of connection and engagement between individuals while fostering rapport and mutual trust. Eye contact can also help encourage collaboration and build an inclusive environment where everyone feels heard.
However, in the current era of remote work and virtual communication, maintaining eye contact when parties are worlds apart can be challenging. There are too many distractions in remote work settings that make our virtual communication incomplete, from social media notifications to household activities and persistent network disruptions.
Fortunately, you can still reap the maximum benefits of eye contact in your communication by holding in-person meetings with your remote team at a private meeting room available in shared spaces such as Quest Workspaces.
Why eye contact is a crucial part of nonverbal communication
Eye contact or direct gaze is an integral part of effective communication. The human brain is developed to pay close attention to eye contact and the messages it conveys fugitively. Through eye contact, you gather communication cues regarding tone, emotional state, turn-taking, and more. Here are some of the benefits of eye contact in communication:
Establishes bonds and rapport with others
Studies reveal eye contact triggers the limbic mirror system. This implies that the same neurons that are generated in someone's brain will also be generated in yours when you share eye contact with them. In essence, if the other person's eyes communicate joy, the neurons in your brain will also fire feelings of joy. This sharing of emotional state helps parties bond among themselves and establish shared rapport. In essence, making eye contact creates a sense of mutual understanding and shared experience, which is the basis for building strong bonds and rapport.
Help build trust
Excellent eye contact is a crucial display of honesty during the conversation. Our eyes are a central part of nonverbal communication that reveal a range of emotions that words won't always speak. When individuals make eye contact, it suggests they have nothing to hide and are willing to be vulnerable. This openness encourages trust, creating an atmosphere where people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts, concerns, and emotions. Meeting your team, clients, or partners in a private meeting room allows you to convey transparency and openness in your interpersonal interactions. This can contribute to a positive and supportive environment where trust can flourish.
Improve understanding between teams
It is quite easy to have misunderstandings, especially when communicating virtually. Making eye contact helps participants focus on the conversation and read facial expressions. This ultimately reduces misunderstandings and fosters effective communication between two or more people. Moreover, eye contact enables immediate feedback and clarification during a conversation. It allows you to gauge your audience's reactions and adjust your communication accordingly to enhance understanding. Should confusion arise, eye contact will facilitate an opportunity to seek clarification via nonverbal cues or prompts for further explanation. This ultimately improves mutual understanding.
Making eye contact is a sign of respect
Making eye contact is also a great way to show and earn respect. Looking someone directly in the eyes shows them that you think they are essential. This way, eye contact serves as a non-verbal cue that acknowledges the other person's presence and importance. Maintaining eye contact during in-person meetings at Quest Workspace meeting rooms can be a great way to show your team that you value their opinions, ideas, and perspectives. By looking someone in the eye, you convey that you see them as worthy of recognition. This acknowledgment can foster a sense of respect and equality between both parties.
Enhances authority and influence
Maintaining appropriate eye contact can help enhance your perceived authority and influence, especially during hardball business negotiations. When you establish and maintain eye contact with others, it signals confidence, conviction, and sincerity. This aspect greatly influences how the other party receives and understands your message. In a nutshell, confident people always maintain strong and direct eye contact. Demonstrating confidence through eye contact is a great way to project an image of competence and expertise. This ultimately enhances your perceived authority and influence during business negotiations.
Quest Workspaces provides tailored meeting rooms to enhance your nonverbal communication
While we may not necessarily speak with our eyes, we use them to send and receive messages beyond what our spoken words can reveal. Eye contact is a crucial aspect of human communication that contributes to building understanding, trust, respect, and rapport. When others see you making eye contact, they perceive you as being involved and invested in the conversation.
At Quest Workspaces, we provide tailored meeting rooms to allow you to hold in-person meetings with your team, clients, and stakeholders. Contact us today to schedule a tour in a location near you.
